Human rights defender Nagavkin’s advocate claims gross violations in theft case

Investigators and court did not conduct an examination of the jewellery items seized from the convicts, did not establish the amount of damage, and all the defendants in the criminal case were defended by one lawyer, claimed an advocate of human rights defender Igor Nagavkin, convicted of stealing the jewellery. The advocate expressed his hope that the court listened to the defence’s arguments.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the Leninsky District Court of the Volgograd Region is considering the case against Igor Nagavkin, who is charged with disorganizing the operation of a SIZO (pre-trial prison). The human rights defender complained about a provocation when he was placed to a cell with pedophiles, which caused his conflict with the SIZO staff.

Advocate Valery Shukhardin noted that “after the speeches delivered by Igor and the defender, the judges and the public prosecutor started to think over the case,” since they “pointed out gross violations <in the work of the investigating authorities and the Leninsky District Court >.”

According to the advocate, the court was “surprised to learn” that the claimed “amount of major damage” had not been based on a forensic examination. When Igor Nagavkin complained that some of the investigators’ reports were “fake,” his statements did not make much impact on the court, “because those were just reports, just routine.” Advocate Valery Shukhardin has emphasized that in the future, in the event of a negative decision by the court of cassation, there is a chance to file an appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee, which decisions Russia recognizes.