Imam Stepanenko's advocate and the second defendant Grudin beaten in Stavropol Territory

On January 16, 2007, before the start of a court session in Pyatigorsk (Stavropol Territory), a sentry beat Anton Stepanenko's advocate and Andrei Grudin, the second defendant in the case. Earlier, the defence had legally proved that in the pre-trial custody Stepanenko was subjected to pressure and beating by the members of law enforcement bodies.

Rihard Panteleichuk, human rights activist and head of the "Kovcheg" (Ark) Project, gave his comments to what happened as follows: "It is not the first fact of flagrant militia abuse of power in Stepanenko's case. Anton was beaten in pre-trial custody. He was kept for days in a confined box; the very fact that they have such is a breach of international treaties ratified by the Russian Federation. Right before my eyes, a sentry threatened to kill Stepanenko."

Astemir Podluzhny, press secretary of the Pyatigorsk Court, told earlier the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" that Imam Anton (Abdullah) Stepanenko was accused on three Articles of the Criminal Code: kindling religious enmity, illegal deprivation of freedom and blackmail (Articles 282, 127 and 163 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).