Igor Stenin's advocate declares her client‘s innocence in extremism case

During the pleadings in the case against Igor Stenin, the leader of the nationalist movement "Russians of Astrakhan", prosecutors have asked the court to sentence the defendant to 2 years of imprisonment in a settlement colony, while the defence requested to acquit the defendant. The verdict will be pronounced on May 11.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Igor Stenin is accused of spreading calls for extremism in social networks. On February 8, the Soviet District Court of Astrakhan declared completed the court hearings in his case. On the same day, one of the administrators of the group of the "Russians of Astrakhan" in the social network "VKontakte" announced that he had testified against Igor Stenin under pressure.

At the court hearing held on May 4, the public prosecutor claimed that the guilt of Igor Stenin had been proved and asked the court to sentence the defendant to 2 years of imprisonment in a settlement colony.

The very activist believes that his rights to protection were violated, since the court had dismissed the motions filed by his defence and aimed at proving his innocence.

Advocate Tatiana Ivanushkina emphasizes that Igor Stenin requested to attach to his case the printed copies of his correspondence with the "VKontakte" technical support team; however, his request was dismissed. Besides, according to the advocate, the court has also dismissed the motions to send inquiries to the Russian Ministry of Justice for information, which, according to Tatiana Ivanushkina, would confirm the innocence of her client.

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