13:30, 3 June 2017

Witness in case against Arthur Panov and Maxim Smyshlyaev claims pressure during questioning

Arthur Panov and Maxim Smyshlyaev at the session of the North-Caucasian District Military Court. Photo by Konstantin Volgin for "Caucasian Knot"

Dmitry Remizov, a journalist of the agency "Rosbalt", has told the court that a law enforcer used force against him and demanded to confirm his acquaintance with Maxim Smyshlyaev, accused of plotting a terror act in Rostov-on-Don. Maxim Smyshlyaev has also claimed being beaten by law enforcers. Arthur Panov, another defendant, has reported about threats from the law enforcers.

According to Dmitry Remizov, the law enforcers invited him for questioning in the case against a person, whom, according to them, he knew. Meanwhile, a policeman hit him three times on the head to force him to "confirm the fact of acquaintance with Maxim Smyshlyaev and probably gave defamatory evidence."

Dmitry Remizov has complained that he was beaten during his questioning at the Centre for Countering Extremism (CCE) in the Maxim Smyshlyaev's case held on August 11, 2016, the "Rosbalt" reports.

"In addition to the fact [...] that he hit me, he threatened me that he would involve me in the case. He showed me a dagger with a Nazi swastika and said: 'Do you want us to set those Nazis against you?'," said Dmitry Remizov. According to the journalist, another law enforcer also threatened him.

Arthur Panov has added that he received similar threats from the law enforcers concerning the Nazis.

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

Author: Konstantin Volgin

Source: CK correspondent