The Basmanny District Court of Moscow extended until August 15 the period of detention in a pre-trial detention center for the coordinator of the “Left Front” Sergei Udaltsov in the case of justifying terrorism (Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code). A Mediazona correspondent reports this from the courtroom.
Before the hearing began, Udaltsov managed to tell those who came to support him: “The charges still amaze me.”
The meeting was held behind closed doors. “Data on the investigative actions performed constitute the secret of the preliminary investigation,” the investigator formally argued.
Judge Vakhrameev was satisfied with this argument, although lawyer Dmitry Agranovsky reminded that there is no such basis for closing the hearing in the Criminal Procedure Code. “From a human point of view, there is no need,” insisted Udaltsov’s lawyer.
After the court made its decision, Udaltsov addressed the audience:
“Four months have passed, and the charges are absolutely incomprehensible, it is unclear why I should be kept in custody. This is how I watch TV almost every day (thank you that there is a TV in the pre-trial detention center), and what our government, the president, is saying today during the inauguration is what both I and the “Left Front” have been saying for many years. Therefore, the question arises why I am being held in custody, this amazes me.
I, of course, hope to achieve justice. Thanks to everyone who came to support — this is very important, it gives me strength. A huge thank you to everyone who took time away from work today, I heard that ministers are being confirmed today… Nice, nice.
I am truly amazed by the accusation, because I personally, the Left Front, we have always taken a patriotic position, and accusing me of justifying terrorism is simply some kind of blasphemy. We have never had anything even close to terrorist methods.
We are engaged in legal political work. Yes, we are in opposition, but we are in constructive opposition — this is useful at all times.
A criminal case against the left-wing politician was opened on December 15, and the court chose a preventive measure only on January 12, sending Sergei Udaltsov to a pre-trial detention center. The day before, his home was searched and equipment was seized.
During a meeting to select a preventive measure, the politician clarified that the reason for initiating a criminal case was posts about Ufa residents accused of participating in a terrorist community. “The investigation interprets the study of Marxism as terrorism,” Udaltsov believes.
At the same time, Udaltsov suggested that the real reason for initiating a criminal case was his opposition views and the upcoming presidential elections: “Of course, this prosecution is connected, in my opinion look, with the presidential elections. We support opponents of Vladimir Putin. I think this is one of the main reasons for my detention. Apparently, today there is no place for dissent in Russia at all.”
In 2014, Udaltsov was sentenced to four and a half years in a general regime colony for the “Bolotnaya case.” After the politician served his sentence, the court placed him under administrative supervision and banned him from participating in public events.