Russian Social Media Petitions Leniency For US Teacher Convicted of Sex Crimes

Users of Russian-language social media are coming out in large droves to protect the name of Jennifer Fichter, the Florida English teacher who was convicted with 22 years in prison for having had sex with three juveniles.

Even as Runet users give a number of reasons for defending her, everyone agrees that the punishment is disproportionately large, according to sputniknews.

Last Thursday, Fichter admitted to her guilt of having had sex with three of her 17-year-old students, before she was sentenced to 22 years in prison by a Florida judge. "All I can say is I'm so sorry," the 30-year-old ex-teacher told the court. "I wish I could take it back, and my words are not going to suffice; I know that."

Yet the judge in the case was merciless, especially as her sexual relationships may have overlapped. "You're going to have a long time to think about what you did," the judge noted, before passing down the 22-year sentence.

Immediately and speedily, Russian-language social media users slammed the verdict. Some users from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus invited their colleagues to join the 'Freedom Jennifer Fichter' petition at whitehouse.gov, dubbing her 'a saint', and noting that some people have got lighter sentences for more serious crimes.

Many social media users compared her case with the Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik: "[Anders] Breivik, who killed 77 people in 2011, received one year less than Jennifer, who made a few sexually mature guys happy," said a frequently retweeted and reposted comment.

Hence, apart from another petition asking people to sign the White House petition, which will soon reach 100,000 signatures for the appeal to be considered by President Barack Obama, Russian social media users started this second petition that has already got 23,000 signatures just a day after its creation.

The petition reads:

"Jennifer received 22 years for bringing three mature adult male students into adulthood. 22 years for seeking happiness and the presence of a loved one by her side, even if that person may have been younger than she was. 22 years, despite the fact that the students themselves wanted to be with her, wanted her affection and attention. Comrades! Sign the petition! Anyone could end up in her place, and if we close our eyes to this incident now, after some time students will be given the power to imprison any loving woman, whom our society needs so much!"

Signers for the petition said that they were "truly sorry for the young woman," asking "whether this crime really has any victims." One user jokingly commented that "she would have been given a lesser sentence for killing the students than having sex with them."

"At 17 years of age, a man is sexually mature," said another comment. "What is even the issue here? At 17 I did much worse, and not just with a teacher."

Another tried to drag the issue into politics, stating: "the Americans have completely lost it; she should submit documents for Russian citizenship," referring to the fact that 16 is the legal age of consent in Russia.