The Investigative Committee of Russia has reclassified the criminal case stemming from an attack on lawyer Elena Ponomareva. What began as an accusation of hooliganism has been reframed as a crime against justice, according to the daily newspaper Vedomosti, signaling a shift in the severity and focus of the charges involved.
In the new procedural frame, two suspects, Igor Karpov, aged 25, and Pavel Morozov, aged 39, face updated charges. They were initially charged under the hooliganism clause, but prosecutors have now moved to charge them with threatening an individual who participates in the administration of justice. The updated accusation aligns with part 4 of article 296 of the Criminal Code, and if convicted, each could face a potential prison term of up to ten years. The reassessment underscores the seriousness with which authorities treat acts perceived as attempts to intimidate those involved in legal proceedings.
Evidence collected by investigators indicates that the person who ordered the attack on Ponomareva may have been connected to the ongoing inquiry, suggesting a potential link to the case No. before the court. This development has prompted a broader inquiry into who issued the instructions and what role, if any, current officials or associates played in directing the actions against the defense lawyer. The revelation that a directive to assault Ponomareva may have originated from someone involved in the case management adds a troubling dimension to the allegations and raises questions about possible interference with judicial processes, which authorities say will be examined thoroughly.
According to reports, during June 2023 the client allegedly placed an anonymous online advertisement offering a payment of 100,000 rubles in cryptocurrency for dispersing green paint on Ponomareva and a larger sum, one million rubles, for committing an acid attack. Such offers, if proven, demonstrate a clear intent to inflict serious harm on a person who participates in legal proceedings, highlighting the gravity with which the case is being treated by law enforcement and the judiciary.
On July 6, a violent incident occurred near a bus stop in Moscow when Ponomareva was doused with bright green paint and sustained injuries to her eyes. In the aftermath, she faced ongoing threats, including the dissemination of photographs depicting her relatives, property, and pets via instant messaging platforms. These threats intensified concerns about the safety of legal professionals who work to uphold the rule of law in high-stakes cases and intensified media scrutiny around the incident.
Officials and legal observers have noted that the investigation has not shed light on every motive behind the attack, though connections to past incidents where rights defenders faced intimidation have been discussed in the press. Interviews and official statements suggest that inquiries are examining whether the recent assault bears any relation to other incidents involving penalties against journalists and defenders of human rights in various regions, including Chechnya, where a separate high-profile attack on a journalist drew attention in recent months, signaling a broader climate of risk for those who challenge power structures.
Law enforcement officers reported that on July 7 two men were detained in connection with the attack on Ponomareva, and by July 10 one of the suspects was remanded by the Moscow Kuntsevsky District Court. The rapid sequence of detentions and judicial decisions underscores the system’s emphasis on swift action in cases involving threats against legal professionals and the potential compromise of judicial independence. The case against the attacker or attackers has continued to unfold as investigators pursue additional evidence and clarify the full extent of involvement by any co-conspirators or sponsors.
Observers recall a prior criminal case involving an individual accused of attempting to set fire to Lenin’s Mausoleum, a case that highlighted public security concerns and the sensitivity of political and historical symbols within Russia. While that matter is separate from the Ponomareva case, it serves as a reminder of the broader landscape of criminal activity linked to acts of intimidation or violence directed at individuals connected to the legal and political spheres. The current investigation remains focused on establishing the facts, identifying all responsible parties, and ensuring that justice is administered in a transparent and accountable manner.