Attacker on Liudmila Alekseeva sentenced conditionally

The Khamovniki Court of Moscow has sentenced Konstantin Pereverzev, who struck on March 31 at a Moscow metro station Liudmila Alekseeva, head of the oldest Russian human rights organization - Moscow Helsinki Group - to one conditional year.

The Magistrate Court of the Khamovniki District of Moscow has found Pereverzev guilty of committing a crime stipulated by point "a", part 2, Article 116 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Bodily blows under hooligan intentions, which have caused physical pain, but no harm to one's health"), the "Interfax" reports.

The "GZT.RU" adds that a one-year trial term was also decided for Pereverzev.

In the course of the parties' debate, the prosecutor asked for one conditional year for the defendant. The ITAR-TASS reports that Pereverzev himself stated his repentance and asked the court about minimal punishment.

He explained his behaviour at the Park Kultury metro station by his alcoholic intoxication on that day.

Prior and in the course of the session the defendant and his mother repeatedly apologized to Alekseeva, the RAPSI Agency reports.

Ms Alekseeva is sure that the incident "was not a manifestation of personal antipathy" against her. She is sure that Pereverzev, being "a weak-willed and drinking person", was under someone's influence. She asked about the minimal punishment to the offender. "If there is no moral core, there should be at least understanding of punishment inevitability," she is sure.