In Krasnodar, human rights defender sentenced for defaming prosecutor and attacking policeman

In Krasnodar, the court has sentenced human rights defender Vladislav Nikitenko to six years of imprisonment and to a heavy fine. Vladislav Nikitenko was found guilty of defamation of a prosecutor, contempt of court, obstruction of justice, and assaulting a policeman.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in March 2016, human rights defender Vladislav Nikitenko was sent for psychiatric examination by the court's decision in the case, in which he was charged with obstruction of justice, contempt of court, and defamation of a prosecutor. Vladislav Nikitenko himself stated that on the day when he was sent for psychiatric examination, he was to act as a defender of activist Darya Polyudova during the consideration of her appeal against her sentence.

According to the press service of the Kuban Prosecutor's Office, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Krasnodar found Vladislav Nikitenko guilty and sentenced him to six years of imprisonment in a common-security penal colony and a fine of 1.2 million roubles.

At the court hearing, Vladislav Nikitenko pleaded not guilty.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.