Home arrest of journalist Yarst in Sochi extended by court ruling

Today, a Sochi court chaired by Judge Nikolai Vaschenko has considered a motion lodged by investigator Karina Matveeva who asked to extend journalist Yarst's home arrest by a month. The motion was granted, but the journalist's defence intends to appeal against the ruling.

The journalist of the "Russian Public Television" Nikolai Yarst was detained in Sochi on May 23. According to investigators, a bag with drugs was found by UVD (Interior Department) agents in the car, where Yarst was with his colleague.

On May 25, the court restricted Yarst's freedom by a recognizance not to leave. On June 3, it was replaced by a two-month home arrest.

"Not to allow N. Yarst to communicate by means of the Internet with the media and put pressure on investigators and witnesses, I hereby ask to extend his home arrest," the investigator Karina Matveeva has stated, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The lawyers Alexander Popkov and Alexander Boiko, who are defending Nikolai Yarst, have insisted on lifting the arrest, stating that the case files have no proofs that the journalist was involved in the incriminated offense.

Nikolai Yarst asked the court not to keep him under home arrest, as his mother is in hospital and needs care. He said that under home arrest he cannot work and maintain himself and his family with his growing minor daughter.