23:30, 24 May 2013

MIA: journalists detained in Sochi are suspected of drug possession

Narcotic drug was found in the car of the filming group of the Public Television of Russia Nikolai Yarst and Filipp Vasilenko, who were detained in Sochi, said the spokesman of the city UVD (Interior Department).

Examination has established that the substance weighing 2.95 g is an analogue of cannabinoids (active ingredient of marijuana and hashish).

A criminal case was opened under the article of "illegal possession, acquisition, transportation of large amount of drugs", the "Interfax" reports with reference to the press service of the Sochi UVD. The maximum penalty under this article is up to 10 years in prison.

The car with the journalists was stopped for a traffic violation, the source from the UVD told the ITAR-TASS.

According to Yarst, he was on the way to the Investigatory Committee to ask for comments to his material, when he was stopped by the police, and that there was no parcel in his car prior he was stopped by policemen.