Trial on the case of Dmitry Novikov in Sochi deferred till February, 9

The trial for consideration of the question of taking into custody Dmitry Novikov, retired judge of Khosta district of Sochi, was deferred till February, 9, because of self-recusation of two judges.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that Dmitry Novikov was detained during interrogation on October, 17, 2011. On the same day he was released but on October, 18, a charge of abuse of authority and bribery was brought against Novikov.

On January, 30, 2012, Chairman of Committee of Inquiry of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin directed a motion to Chairman of the regional court Alexander Chernov on replacement of preventive punishment to Novikov in form of being on his own recognizance by taking him into custody. Consideration of the motion was appointed on February, 7.

Before the beginning of the session two judges, A. Strukova and E. Shporko, announced self-recusation explaining that in 2010 they signed an appeal to Committee of Inquiry of the Russian Federation of making Novikov criminally liable on behalf of the Council of Judges. In the opinion of these judges, this fact may influence bringing lawful and grounded verdict on the present case.

The self-recusations were granted and signed by the judges themselves and Chief Justice. The case will be considered again by a new panel of judges on February, 9.

"How could the judges sign a motion to Bastrykin of starting criminal proceedings against me if they had not talked to me even once, have never gone into the matter or got the hang of the situation with the violations I was accused of?", Novikov expressed his bewilderment commenting on the case to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to CIR, in 2002 Dmitry Novikov extorted a bribe in form of four land parcels in the village of Esto-Sadok, the settlement of Krasnaya Poplyana, Adler district of Sochi, from members of a farm enterprise whose complaint was under his consideration. According to the investigation's version, in case of refusal he threatened to the chairman of the farm enterprise to bring a judgment against him. CIR reports that the farmer had to agree with judge's demand and included four of his trustees into the list of persons to receive land parcels of 1,8 hectares total area. Three of the land parcels illegally received were sold for 101 million and 693 thousand rubles. Members of CIR consider that all in all Novikov got 101 million and 693 thousand rubles and a land parcel of 4 thousand square meters total area.

Novikov himself and his attorneys consider his persecution unlawful. He calls Bastrykin's motion of taking him into custody a "revenge for daring to disclose crimes inside law enforcement system among high-ranking officials".