Russian SC finds Stavropol judge Alexander Blinov guilty

The travelling panel of judges of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Russian Federation has sentenced the judge of the Stavropol Territorial Court on charges of fraud and a fatal road accident to 2 years of imprisonment and a fine, but relieved him from criminal liability for lapse of limitation period.

The SC has decided not to admit journalists to sentencing, although Blinov's trial as such was held open.

"Alexander Blinov was sentenced to two years of freedom restriction and a fine of 100,000 roubles; however, because of lapse of the limitation period for his crimes, Blinov is relieved from criminal responsibility," the RIA "Novosti" quotes the court spokesperson.

According to investigators, in October 2005, Judge Blinov, while driving his car, tripped over a woman who was crossing the street and who later died from received traumas. Investigators also found that the judge had fraudulently stole budget money in the amount of over 43,000 roubles, by presenting false accounting documents on renting a flat to the office of the court, the STRC "Stavropolye" reports.

Blinov himself had claimed that the woman died not from the road accident, but from heart insufficiency. In the course of court proceedings, he challenged the presiding judge, the whole of the court, and demanded to recognize the collected evidences inadmissible. He stated that he did not trust the investigation.