The defense team for Vitaly Berezhny, who faces serious allegations linked to the death of 8-year-old Nastya Muravyova from Tyumen, is led by attorney Alexander Pochuev. Renowned for taking on high-profile matters in the past, including civil actions involving the pop icon Madonna and provocative public disputes surrounding Alexei Panin, Pochuev has built a reputation for handling cases that attract intense media attention and broad public interest. His involvement signals an expectation of a courtroom strategy that is both aggressive and meticulously organized, capable of withstanding intense scrutiny from both the press and the public.
In a statement issued via his Telegram channel, Pochuev explained that he joined Berezhny’s defense at the invitation of the defendant’s relatives. They reported mounting pressure on the defense team and chose to bring in a veteran advocate with a history of controversial trials who is comfortable occupying a highly visible public stance on criminal convictions. He noted that, after agreeing to take on the case, he promptly apprised the court, the head of the Investigative Committee, and the Prosecutor General of his participation, aiming to curb leaks of case materials and lessen external harassment of the accused before a verdict is reached. The move reflects a broader concern about how media narratives and public commentary can influence perceptions of fairness in high-stakes criminal proceedings.
According to Pochuev, the Moscow City Court is preparing to continue assembling a jury on March 16, with the responsibility of delivering the eventual verdict in the Berezhny matter. The process underscores the gravity and intense public scrutiny surrounding the case, as jurors will be tasked with weighing the presented evidence and determining responsibility beyond reasonable doubt. The upcoming jury phase highlights the delicate balance courts strive to maintain between transparent public proceedings and the rights of the accused to a fair and unbiased trial. Observers note that jurors will need to assess witness credibility, forensics, and the legal standards that govern criminal liability, all while navigating a media environment that remains highly engaged with every development.
Before taking on this assignment, Pochuev represented several notable clients pursuing significant financial actions, including cases involving Madonna. He also defended the wife of actor Alexei Panin in a dispute over custody arrangements for Panin’s daughter, a matter that intersected with public discussions about LGBT representation at a concert. Additionally, he served as the attorney for Oleg Sokolov, a former associate professor at St. Petersburg State University, in a widely reported murder case involving a graduate student. These past roles illustrate a career spent guiding attorneys through cases that attract intense media attention and heightened public interest, often requiring a careful blend of legal rigor and public-facing communication to manage narratives and expectations. The breadth of his experience suggests a focus on strategic advocacy across varied and high-visibility arenas, including civil and criminal contexts, and the ability to operate effectively under intense scrutiny.
Nastya Muravyova disappeared on June 30, 2021. Her body, bearing signs of a violent death, was discovered about a month and a half later along the shore of a lake roughly 2.5 kilometers from her family home. A week after the discovery, a 40-year-old local resident living nearby was detained as a suspect. Berezhny later claimed that authorities subjected him to electric shocks and coerced a confession. He reportedly sent a letter to the country’s president, raising concerns about the investigative process. In November 2022, photographs emerged from the site where the remains were found, fueling ongoing public interest and debate about the case and the conditions surrounding it. The full arc of the investigation, the responses from officials, and the evolving narrative around the case continued to spark discussion, reflectively shaping public expectations about justice, due process, and accountability in sensitive criminal investigations.