The Primorsky District Court has reversed the prior ruling against Artyom Samsonov, a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Primorye, who was found guilty in a child molestation case and has sent the matter back for a fresh hearing. This update is reported by DEA News with reference to Elena Oleneva, the court’s press secretary. [citation: DEA News]
According to the investigation and court records, between June 1 and July 31, 2018, Samsonov was at a Vladivostok recreation center on a day when he interacted with the son of a friend, who was 11 years old. During that visit, the deputy showed the boy a private object and described its alleged purpose, an incident that has been central to the dispute. [citation: DEA News]
On September 20, 2022, in Vladivostok, the Soviet District Court sentenced Artem Samsonov, a deputy aligned with the Communist Party in Primorye, to 13 years in prison on charges related to molesting a minor. The defendant maintained his innocence, arguing that the accusations were false and possibly politically motivated. [citation: DEA News]
Samsonov and his lawyers contested the case, filing a complaint with the Primorsky District Court alleging a breach of the secrecy of the negotiating room. Following a review, the charges were reinstated and the matter was brought back before a district court, ultimately being reassigned for a fresh trial with a new panel as of February 8. [citation: DEA News]
According to Oleneva, the judgment against Samsonov was annulled, and the criminal case was moved from the stage of preparation for trial in the same court to a new trial in a different judicial composition. The official noted that the detention order was replaced with three months of house arrest, resulting in Samsonov’s release from custody. [citation: DEA News]