Sergey Krivenko, HRC member, speaks at Bogatenkova's trial

Today, the Budyonnovsk City Court will continue considering the case of Lyudmila Bogatenkova, the head of the "Prikumye Mothers" Committee, accused of a fraud. At the previous session, the court questioned several witnesses for the prosecution and defence, and listened to the information of Sergey Krivenko, a member of the Human Rights Council (HRC).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Bogatenkova was accused of committing a fraud at providing legal services to the militaries who had taken part in counterterrorist operations (CTOs) in Northern Caucasus. Two criminal cases have been opened against Bogatenkova. One of them claims that Bogatenkova allegedly borrowed under an oral agreement 100,000 roubles, and then began hiding and denying the loan. The other case is based on statements of two former Bogatenkova's clients that she had misled them and stole their money (the fee for the provision of legal services).

Zubenko, her advocate, has confirmed that the court plans to question one more witness, which is scheduled to be held in the Arzgir District Court of the Stavropol Territory.

According to Zubenko, Sergey Krivenko has stated that Bogatenkova was engaged in human rights activities for over 10 years; and there were no financial scandals in the work of her committee.

Lyudmila Bogatenkova was investigating the circumstances of deaths of Russian soldiers in the warfare in Ukraine in July and August 2014. As a result, she transferred to the Russian Presidential HRC the information about nine Russian soldiers who had been declared as perished in the Rostov Region.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.