In Volgograd, ex-deputy accused of paedophilia pleads guilty in court

On September 6, the Dzerzhinsk District Court of Volgograd held the first session on the case of Nikolai Volkov, ex-deputy of the Regional Duma, who is accused of a series of sexual crimes against children, forging a passport and escape, and a series of crimes against sexual inviolability of juveniles. At the trial, Volkov pled guilty.

Let us remind you that Nikolai Volkov, suspected of minors' rape, was detained by militia; however, on March 15, 2010, he escaped and was put on the federal wanted list. On March 22 of that year, the Central District Court of Volgograd pronounced custody as a pre-trial restriction for Volkov. At night on March 18, 2011, Volkov was detained on the train "Anapa-Moscow" in Rostov Region. In May, it was announced that Volkov pled guilty in full and repented.

The sound trial of ex-deputy began with speeches of witnesses, including children. The trial was held behind closed doors, the "Volgogradskaya Pravda" reports.

The journalists are likely to be admitted in the courtroom only at announcement of sentence, and the operative part is to be read in presence of the journalists.

According to Vitaly Ruzanov, Press Secretary of the Dzerzhinsk District Court, on September 6 at the trial the testimonies of witnesses in the case, most of whom are children or their legal representatives, were listened to. According to Vitaly Ruzanov, the court can listen to about 40 witnesses in total.

At the court session, Nikolai Volkov pled guilty.

The next court session on his case is appointed for September 16, the "Vsyo dlya Vas" (All for You) reports.

Given the gravity of the crimes and the public response, Nikolai Volkov could face a thread of very serious sentence on charges of paedophilia - up to 20 years of imprisonment, the "GTRK Volgograd-TRV" reports.