A Moscow case involving journalist and blogger Yevgeny Ponasenkov, who is identified in Russia as a foreign agent, and his friend lawyer Ramis Zaripov drew attention after a clash with an unidentified man in central Moscow. In an interview with socialbites.ca, Ponasenkov described the proceedings against Zaripov as “empty,” saying the dispute unfolded amid what he called bureaucracy and claiming he would issue a formal statement regarding the attempted murder allegation tied to the incident.
Ponasenkov asserted that the events were the product of “absolutely vain work and bestiality,” maintaining that video footage shows them being attacked by a dirty, aggressive drunk. He argued that the key piece of evidence was the surveillance camera, which he said was thrown aside as it wobbled and could have caused harm, implying there was nothing substantial to discuss beyond the video. He added that as a culture-creator, his own plight should spark concern, while maintaining his own resilience and health. “This is an empty case, bureaucracy, so to speak,” he stated.
Ponasenkov also noted that the police had no complaints against him.
The incident involved a conflict between the blogger Yevgeny Ponasenkov, his associate Ramis Zaripov, and an unidentified man who died on June 6 in the Khamovniki district of Moscow. Security camera footage reportedly shows the friends attempting to distance themselves from the stranger who had disrupted them, followed by Zaripov pushing the man. The man reportedly fell to the pavement, sustaining a severe head injury.
The victim was hospitalized with multiple head injuries and cerebral edema and was unconscious. Authorities were unable to identify the man due to a lack of identifying documents on him.
On the morning of June 8, the Telegram channel 112 reported that a criminal case had been opened against Ramis Zaripov under the article dealing with causing grievous bodily harm by negligence, drawing renewed attention to the evolving legal proceedings surrounding the case. (citation: Telegram channel 112)