Manana Aslamazyan rejected of case consideration in absentia

The Investigatory Committee of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has rejected the petition of Manana Aslamazyan, head of the Foundation "Educated Media" (successor of the "Internews"), accused of money contraband, to consider her criminal case without her presence - in absentia, Victor Parshutkin, the defendant's advocate has informed and added: "They demand Aslamazyan to come back and intend to deliver the case to the court only after her return."

Currently, Ms Aslamazyan is outside Russia. The investigation of the criminal case is already over, and the defence should start acquainting with the collected evidences, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has informed that Manana Aslamazyan, head of the Foundation, was detained late in this January, when she entered Russia with undeclared 9,550 euros and 5,130 roubles on her. This offence, which is usually punished by a penalty, went to the Investigatory Committee under the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, which gave reason to human rights activist to state that the government wishes "to wipe up the unwanted organization that teaches journalists to be free."