Inquiry into Yarst's case in Sochi is run with violations, advocates assert

The journalist Nikolai Yarst, accused of drug possession, is not guilty of the incriminated offence, while the inquiry into his case is accompanied by violations, the Yarst's advocates Alexander Popkov and Marina Dubrovina said at the press conference held in Sochi.

Nobody of the officials of the Prosecutor's Office, Investigating Committee and the Police, who had been invited, appeared at the press conference held in the hall of the "Breeze Hotel" on June 27.

Prior to the press conference, the advocates of Nikolai Yarst received a warning from the investigator about their liability for disclosing the secrecy of investigation, said Alexander Popkov. However, according to his version, there cannot be any secrecy in the criminal case against an innocent man.

According to Marina Dubrovina, the investigator did not explain to them what she understood as the secrecy of investigation. "We received no clear answers to our questions; thus, we believe that this warning is illegal," she said.

The defence believes that the investigation was conducted with violations. According to the advocates, the Yarst's case has many nuances that give reason to believe that the case is customized.