The prosecutor requested that Pussy Riot member and former Mediazona publisher Pyotr Verzilov (recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation) be sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in prison for discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This was reported by TASS referring to Verzilov’s lawyer, Leonid Solovyov.
“During the discussion between the parties, the prosecutor demanded that Verzilov be sentenced to 8.5 years in prison in absentia,” Solovyov said.
The activist is accused of committing a crime under clause “e” of Part 2 of Art. 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (knowingly disseminating false information to the public about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation). Verzilov himself is outside the Russian Federation.
Before reportedHe said that the Basmanny District Court began to reconsider the criminal case against Pyotr Verzilov. The court hearing was supposed to be held on March 28 but was postponed until April 1. Basically “other reasons” are shown.
At the same time, previously the Moscow City Court It is cancelled Verzilov was sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in a general regime colony for discrediting the Russian army. By the decision of the court, the case was sent to the Moscow Basmanny Court for a new hearing in a different structure of the court.
Previously Lucy Stein sentenced in absentia He was sentenced to up to six years in prison.