Court in Sochi refused to change journalist Yarst's freedom restriction form

The Krasnodar Territorial Court has left the Sochi journalist Nikolai Yarst, suspected of drug possession, under home arrest.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 23 Nikolai Yarst and Philip Vasilenko, members of the filming group of the Public Television of Russia (OTR), were detained in Sochi. Employees of the UVD (Interior Department) found a package with substance gray-green colour in the detainees' car. Yarst was charged with illegal possession of narcotic drugs. The journalist denies the charges and connects his pursuit with his professional activities. On May 25, the court ruled to restrict his freedom by recognizance not to leave, but on June 3 changed it to home arrest for the period of two months.

The advocates of Nikolai Yarst have filed an appeal, offering to change the journalist' home arrest for recognizance not to leave. The appeal was considered on June 14, the "Live Kuban" reports.

The lawyers said that investigators had no reason to choose such a tough preventive measure, since there is no evidence that the mixture found in the car belonged to Nikolai Yarst.

The court has ruled to leave the journalist under home arrest. The OTR journalist is under threat of 3-10 years in prison, the "Yugopolis" writes.