Advocates outline prospects for criminal proceedings against Zakuskin

The actions of Alexander Zakuskin, a deputy of the Meschansky municipal district of Moscow, who used a gas spray against a pensioner from Chechnya, contain signs of inflicting harm to one's health and abuse of power, Nadezhda Ermolaeva, an advocate, believes. Zelimkhan Arapiev, another advocate, has added that Zakuskin may be released from criminal liability because of reconciliation or compensation for damage.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on February 14, one of the deputies of the Meschansky District of Moscow offered Alexander Zakuskin, the head of the municipal district, to resign after his incident with Salima Yusupkhadjieva, a native of Chechnya. On February 13, Alexander Zakuskin posted a video with his apology to Chechen native Salima Yusupkhadjieva.

Nadezhda Ermolaeva believes that there are prospect of Zakuskin's criminal prosecution. "I wouldn't speak sharply about the gravity of the harm to her health, because if she has an eye burn, it can be classified as medium and even severe harm to her health. It all depends on the conclusion of the expert who will examine her," Ermolaeva said.

She has added that if Zakuskin was at the mosque as an official, his actions could also be qualified under the article on abuse of power. "But it is unlikely that law enforcement bodies will agree to this; they really don't like this article, especially in relation to a state servant."

The actions of deputy Zakuskin can be qualified as intentional infliction of minor bodily harm, Zelimkhan Arapiev, an advocate, has suggested, adding that the Criminal Code provides that a person who has committed a crime of small or medium gravity for the first time can be released from criminal liability if he has reconciled with the victim and amended for the harm caused.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 15, 2022 at 08:06 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.