In Crimea the arrest of Alushta editor extended until May 4

The Kremlin-controlled City Court of Alushta granted the request of the Russian investigator and extended the period of detention for Oleksiy Nazimov, Editor of the Tvoya Gazeta (Your Newspaper) newspaper publication of Alushta, and Pavlo Stepanchenko, Deputy of the local city council, until May 4.

As reported by Nazimov’s lawyer Oleksiy Ladin to Krym.Realiyi, the court hearing ended on April 3 at 11:40 pm.

“According to the defense, this decision is illegal, since the investigation has finally formed accusations and based on this accusation Nazimov’s actions do not constitute a crime… The court, as always, motivated its decision by the alleged facts that Nazimov take advantage of his editor’s authority and influence the testimony of witnesses or in another way affect the course of preliminary investigation. The paradox of the situation is that the preliminary investigation has already ended and the completion of the investigation have already been announced for a long time and currently the procedure of acquaintance is conducted”, – said the lawyer.

In addition, Ladin reported that Nazimov and Stepanchenko stopped the hunger strike at the insistence of the public and recommendations of the lawyers.

The detainees decided to stop the hunger strike during the court hearing on the extension of arrest of April 3.

“I always said that I disagree with this form of a protest and insisted, spoke with Nazimov about stopping the hunger strike. Yesterday they decided to stop the hunger strike. They need their strength to get acquainted with case and to analyze it. They have starved for almost 10 days. Investigator a certificate from the doctor, which states that they do not have any diseases that prevent detention in SIZO (pre-trial detention centre), to the case materials”, – said the lawyer.

At the same time, Ladin reported about the external exhaustion of Nazimov and Stepanchenko. The lawyer notes that they do not expect a medication support after the hunger strike.

“The fact that they went on a hunger strike was ignored by the SIZO staff, Prosecutor’s Office and the investigation. I told them that hunger strike is ineffective and that they will only undermine their health. I printed recommendations on ending the hunger strike and gave them to Nazimov”, – he said.

As a reminder, Oleksiy Nazimov and Pavlo Stepanchenko were detained on October 4 last year on suspicion of commercial bribery and mediation. According to the investigation, Oleksiy Nazimov demanded money from a representative of the Alushta United Russia organization for not disclosing information discrediting members of this political party.

A criminal case has been opened against the detainees. Nazimov charged with Article 204 part 7 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (commercial bribery related to the subject of extortion) and Stepanchenko charged with Article 204.1 part 2 (mediation in commercial bribery committed by a group of persons by prior agreement).

Later the case was reclassified under Article 163 of the Criminal Code of Russia (extortion).

On March 31, it became known that the journalists went on a hunger strike in protest.