Free Russian Political Prisoner Denis Lutskevich, Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Labor Camp
- Target:
- United Nations, Ban ki-Moon, Navi Pillay, OHCHR, European Parliament, EU, State Department, HRW
- Region:
- Russia
- Website:
- bolotnoedelo.info
Born in 1992 Denis Lutskevich. is a student, former marine infantry. He was arrested for participating in the mass anti-Putin protests on Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, on May 6, 2012. He was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison.
Lutskevich was beaten by the Special Unit policemen during the 6th May demonstration, for which there is photographic evidence. He was arrested on June 9 and has been kept in the No5 pre-trial detention prison.
Lutskevich has been accused of participating in mass riots (paragraph 2, article 212 of the Russian Criminal Code) and of using force against a representative of authority (paragraph 1, article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code). He is facing up to thirteen years in prison.
He was accused of pulling a helmet off a Special Unit policeman’s head, as well as throwing pieces of asphalt at the policemen. The accusation is based on the testimony provided by the injured party, Troerin.
Denis Lutskevich’s lawyer Dmitry Dinze presented numerous positive character references at the court, for example, from Lutskevich’s work, university and neighbours.
Commenting on his conviction, Denis said: "I don't agree with the sentence, but I expected a harsher one. I think an external factor played a role there: the Olympic games and the crisis in Ukraine.
"I am very grateful for the support I have received. Of course the number of those detained (for the Bolotnaya protests) is colossal. When the judge announced the verdict, one could hear slogans from the crowds outside on the street. I plan to launch an appeal, to ask that this verdict be overturned. I will not appeal for clemency."
WHEREAS: The trials of those arrested for taking part in the anti-Putin protests of May 6, 2012 in Moscow have involved disturbing violations of international legal norms;
AND WHEREAS: The accused Denis Kutskevich is clearly on trial solely as the result of politically-motivated charges;
AND WHEREAS: The sentence of 3.5 years in a labor camp is a clearly and excessively harsh prison sentence even if one believes the charges involved here;
THEREFORE: We, the undersigned demand that the international community pressure the government of the Russian Federation to observe its legally-binding human rights obligations and reverse all sentences imposed upon the "Bolotnaya Defendants", including Denis Lutskevich.
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The Free Russian Political Prisoner Denis Lutskevich, Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Labor Camp petition to United Nations, Ban ki-Moon, Navi Pillay, OHCHR, European Parliament, EU, State Department, HRW was written by John S. Burke and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.