Natalia Fedorenko, advocate of blogger Kharchenko*, complains about court's accusatory bias

Natalia Fedorenko, who is defending Vadim Kharchenko*, a blogger, has demanded the judge's challenge due to the violations committed, but was refused; Natalia was accused of violating the judge's privacy. She has complained that her trial prevents her from defending Kharchenko*.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Natalia Fedorenko was accused of violating the judge's privacy. During the consideration of the case of illegal construction, she challenged the judge due to the fact that he had treated his dog in the veterinary clinic in this house. Fedorenko believes that in this way they are trying to deprive her of her advocate's status.

Natalia has told that her interests in court are being defended by the same advocate, who helps her in Kharchenko*'s trial. This advocate said that there are many procedural violations both in Kharchenko*'s and Fedorenko's cases. In his opinion, the judge from Novorossiysk supports his colleague from Gelendjik, in whose privacy Fedorenko is accused.

"The judge who is accusing Fedorenko entered the courtroom as the suffered party, and the first thing the judges did was exchange a firm handshake, while not a single participant in the trial, despite his/her status, shakes hands with judges. According to the code of honour, judges must first and foremost be impartial," the advocate has explained.

Natalia Fedorenko said that she had filed a motion to challenge the judge, but the motion was denied. "He is holding on to my case and is clearly trying to convict me as soon as possible. The accusatory bias of his actions is obvious. It seems that he had promised his colleague from Gelendjik to deal with me," she has stated.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.