22:20, 10 January 2012

Court changes pre-trial restriction for Andrei Popov accused of desertion

At the defence's motion, the Saratov Garrison Military Court has changed pre-trial restriction to recognizance not to leave for soldier Andrei Popov, accused of desertion, who earlier stated that he had been held in slavery in Dagestan. During the court hearings, two prosecutors' witnesses were also questioned.

During the court session, Andrei Bessonov, the lawyer of Andrei Popov, asked to change the pre-trial restriction for his client to a recognizance not to leave. "Popov will not disappear anywhere," said Andrei Bessonov.

The defence explained its motion by the fact that the medical unit had no necessary conditions for rehabilitation after surgery. Despite the prosecutors' protest, the judge granted the motion.

"The court decided on the spot with a view of reaching the age limit for military service to change the pre-trial restriction with observations of the commanders to recognizance not to leave his place of residence," the "Russian news service" quotes Judge Igor Surovtsev as announcing.