22:20, 21 September 2011

Moscow City Court upholds verdict to blogger Alexei Dudko

Today, the Moscow City Court has upheld the verdict of the Tagansky District Court to the blogger Alexei Dudko - six years in prison.

Let us remind you that Alexei Dudko, who is known on the Internet under the nickname ingushetiya_ru, was indicted on three points: illegal drug possession; illegal possession of firearms; and the same offences, committed by a group of persons upon prior concert. The sentence was handed down on June 10, but the blogger's advocates filed a cassation appeal against the verdict.

Changes in the verdict were also demanded by prosecutors, who found it too lenient and insisted on a re-trial.

The today's session started with reading the essence of the defence's cassation complaint; and then - of the one lodged by the prosecution.

Then, the parties were offered to present their arguments and objections.

The session lasted for about an hour; finally, the court rejected both petitions and left the verdict unchanged.

Abusupyan Gaitaev, Alexei Dudko's advocate, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that his client intends to file a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Author: Julia Buslavskaya

Source: CK correspondent