Semena case postponed at the request of the defense which requires publicity

The first open trial on the case of Crimean journalist Mykola Semena was postponed to April 3. As decided by Nadia Shkolna, Judge of the Zheleznodorozhnyi District Court, today after considering the petition from the defense to carry out the trial in a more spacious room.

As reported by reporter of the Human Rights Information Centre.

The lawyer Oleksandr Popkov reinforced his decision with the fact that many journalists could not attend the trial, since there were not enough seats in the courtroom. He also noted that lawyers were working in cramped conditions and defendant Mykola Semena did not even had a table for his papers.

In response, representatives of the “Prosecutor’s Office” said that they regard this statement as an insult to the “court” and noted that the intention to ensure accessibility and publicity in a politically motivated case is nothing more than the whims of the defense.

“Judge” Shkolna noted that journalists filed intercessions to allow filming, but they were left without consideration due to the fact that they were filed incorrectly. She also explained that the hall was chosen in relation with the earlier intercession to allow audio recording of the trial and it would take too much time to transfer all the equipment. However, as a result of procedural mistake she was forced to reschedule the trial to April 3. The mistake being that the judge expressed her opinion before questioning the parties.

It is also noteworthy that before the trial the bailiff and the court secretary tried to orally prohibit the use of audio recording devices, motivating their demands by the fact that “judge” should give permission. At the same time, the bailiff expressed threats that recording devices will be withdrawn.

As a reminder, on February 15, twenty seven human rights organizations, united in the Civic Solidarity Platform, expressed their support for the Crimean journalist Mykola Semena, who faces imprisonment for five years for daring to express his opinion.

In spring, massive searches took place in Crimea, including in the independent journalists who are suspected of collaboration with Krym.Realii. A criminal case was opened with respect to the Radio Liberty’s author Mykola Semena on suspicion of threatening the territorial integrity of Russia. Russian investigation forbade him to leave the peninsula. 

On August 23, his defense submitted a request to FSB to allow Semena to leave Crimea for medical treatment.

Previously International and European Federation of Journalists, as well as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Speech, also had requested to allow the journalist to get medical treatment in Kyiv.

Crimean department of FSB refused to satisfy the request of the journalists.

On November 28, Semena could not visit Brussels to receive the European Prize for the freedom of speech named after Pavlo Sheremet because of the ban on travel outside Crimea.

On January 20, Semena was presented an indictment in the case of separatism under the Article 280.1 of the Criminal Code of Russia (Public appeals for the performance of extremist activity). Lawyer Kurbedinov stated that the indictment was presented in violation of the Criminal-Procedural Code.