19:40, 15 April 2014

Rostov Regional Court upholds verdict to Sergey Reznik

The panel of judges of the Rostov Regional Court has upheld the verdict passed by the Pervomaiskiy District Court of Rostov-on-Don to the journalist and blogger Sergey Reznik.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Sergey Reznik was accused of having organized telephone calls with threats addressed to himself in order to raise his journalistic rating. On November 26, 2013, the above Pervomaiskiy District Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced the journalist to 1.5 years in prison.

Reznik refused to plead guilty and stated that he was persecuted for his oppositional activities. On December 20, 2013, his defence filed a complaint against the verdict.

On April 15, over 30 people came to the court to support Sergey Reznik, Vladislav Ryazantsev, the coordinator of the "Left-Wing Front" in the Rostov Region, who was present at the court session, told he "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Yuri Kastrubin, Reznik's advocate, has stated that, in his opinion, the Regional Court's decision to uphold the verdict was unlawful. He intends to challenge it by cassation, and at the Rostov Regional Court. Kastrubin has added that lawyers may also appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.