16:30, 30 December 2013

In Krasnodar Territory, defence challenges verdict against ecologist Evgeny Vitishko

Evgeny Vitishko. Photo http://svoboda.org/

In the Krasnodar Territory, the defence of ecologist Evgeny Vitishko, who was sentenced to penal settlement for damage to the fence of the so-called "summer cottage of the Governor" of the Krasnodar Territory, has challenged the court's decision. This was reported by Alexander Popkov, advocate of the sentenced ecologist.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Evgeny Vitishko and Suren Gazaryan, the activists of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus", were found guilty of damaging the fence around the area known as "summer cottage of Alexander Tkachov, Governor" of the Krasnodar Territory. Each of the ecologists was sentenced to three year of conditional imprisonment.

On December 20, at the request of the inspection of the Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service (known as UFSIN), the Tuapse court changed the sentence to Evgeny Vitishko to real imprisonment. The decision raised protests of members of political parties and public and ecological organizations.

Today, at the Krasnodar District Court, the defence has challenged the decision of the Tuapse Court to replace the conditional sentence to Evgeny Vitishko with the actual imprisonment. This was reported by the RIA "Novosti" with reference to advocate Alexander Popkov.