Case of human rights activist Denisova is brought before the court in Krasnodar

On March 22, the Krasnodar Leninskiy District Court held a preliminary hearing of the case of human rights activist Anastasia Denisova, leader of the ETnIka civic organization.

The human rights activist is accused of using unlicensed computer software and scumware (part 3, i. "d" of article 146 and part 1 of article 146 of the Criminal Code of the RF). On the basis of the expert assessment conducted by the Union of Criminologists, the Prosecutor's Office concluded that the organization headed by Denisova used pirated Microsoft and Corel software worth 110,492 roubles 08 kopecks.

"The session that lasted about forty minutes was attended by me, may layer, judge German Lonshakov and the representative of the Prosecutor's Office of the City Western Okrug. Though the complainant, a Microsoft representative (LLC Respect) failed to appear in court, the session was not adjourned," said Anastasia Denisova to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"It is interesting that initially the case materials did not include the cancellation of the resolution on the dismissal of a criminal case against me. But the judge having opened the case suddenly discovered it. This "miracle" confused the entire case numbering. Since then, the case pages I and the lawyer referred did not coincide," stated the human rights activist.

The Denisova's lawyer Marina Dubrovina requested the court to abate the criminal persecution due to the gross violations committed in the course of investigation." However the court declined this request, after which the defence layer requested the court to return the case to the Prosecutor's office to correct the mistakes made in the indictment and to remove the unacceptable evidence.

"As the judge repeated several times that a period five days should expire before the preliminary hearing could be held, he is not going to return the case to the Prosecutor's Office," believes Denisova.

Denisova and her colleagues insist the investigation has been biased. The human right activists are concerned that Anastasia may be arrested. She may be sentenced up to six years in prison if found guilty of the crimes she is charged with.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for March 14, 4 p.m. Moscow time.