Ex-judge from Sochi appeals against decision to bring him to criminal responsibility

Dmitri Novikov, former judge of Khosta district court in Krasnodar Krai, accused of organizing embezzling of 17 "Olympic" land plots in Sochi, has appealed against the permission of the Krasnodar Krai judges' qualification board for bringing him to criminal responsibility on the case of illegal recognition of title for a land plot which is now within the zone of Olympic construction.

Igor Trunov, Dmitri Novikov's lawyer, says that the problems of his defendant started after his March application to the RF High Judges' Qualification Board, ICP, General Prosecutor's Office, RF President's administration and the FSS.

According the lawyer's data, the decision of depriving Novikov of the status of a judge was taken by the Krasnodar Krai judges' qualification board on April 7. Trunov notes the "strange character" of the decision because his defendant was deprived of the status of a judge retroactively: on June 9, the board recognized that he had lost the status of a judge from May 11, 2006 due to the fact that he ostensibly failed to report to work and did not properly fulfill the duties of a judge.

According to his data, an operational group of Krasnodar department of FSS came to Moscow, where Dmitri Novikov stayed, on the day of passing the decision on depriving him of the status of a judge. The ex-judge was detained, brought to Krasnodar and later arrested. The decision on his arrest is also appealed against in Krasnodar Krai court.

"We appeal against the decision on consent to initiate a case at the High Qualification Board," explains Igor Trunov. "We need them to make clear whether Novikov is a judge or a simple citizen? If he is a judge, why the norms of his keeping in custody are not observed; or if he is not a judge, why the board decision is needed?"

The lawyer says that the former judge shares a cell with an ordinary criminal who, knowing about the previous work of Dmitri Novikov, keeps threatening him.

Novikov's complaint was filed with the RF High Judges' Qualification Board on June 22.

Consultant Natalia Kondratieva at Khosta district court has informed the publication that Vladimir Bakhmetiev, chairman of the court, refrained from commenting on the situation because, at the moment of his taking the position, Dmitri Novikov had already not been a judge. It became known at the office of the clerk that judge Yazvenko who had passed the decision on the basis of which the case against Novikov had been initiated, was on leave until beginning of July.

"Novikov's activity as an appellant hampers normal work of the court. Probably, the fame of major Dymovski does not leave him alone", surmised an anonymous judge.

Maxim Sliusarev, head of the public relations of FSS department for Krasnodar Krai, claims he has no information on the case of ex-judge Novikov. No comments were given at the Krai court, either.