Translated material
Personal file of an anti-Semite
Synagogue massacre recognized as an “unsocial” act
Yesterday, the Moscow City Court announced the verdict of 21-year-old Muscovite Alexander Koptsev, who on February 11 this year carried out a massacre in the Lubavitch synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya Street, as a result of which nine people were injured. Having assessed all the mitigating and aggravating circumstances, judge Dmitry Fomin considered the punishment of 13 years in a maximum security colony and compulsory outpatient psychiatric treatment sufficient for Koptsev’s correction.Outwardly, this court decision looked logical and even expected. As our newspaper reported, even at the beginning of the investigation into this case, the investigators themselves believed that Alexander Koptsev would receive about 15 years in prison (although Moscow prosecutor Anatoly Zuev then spoke about the possibility of life imprisonment for him). The state prosecutor asked for 16 years in prison for Koptsev. However, the verdict announced yesterday immediately caused heated debate both among the participants in the trial and among many of its observers, including Russian religious leaders. The reason for this was the qualification of the crime committed by Koptsev.
The question of the actual guilt or innocence of the defendant on the main count of the charge - “attempted murder motivated by national, racial, religious hatred” - was not discussed in principle during the trial. Not only because Koptsev was caught at the scene of the crime by his victims, but also because, already in the dock, he himself repeatedly and in detail told how and why he was going to “kill Jews.” Moreover, judging by his speeches, Koptsev, even after the verdict, remained fully confident that he did the right thing, moreover, he was ready, if such an opportunity suddenly presented itself, to go to war again with the “Jewish mafia.” In his last word, he honestly admitted: “I did everything badly. I'm ashamed of myself. I wanted it to be remembered for a long time, so that the Jews would leave the country.”
The main subject of controversy was the decision of the judge who acquitted Koptsev on the second count of the charge - “inciting hatred or enmity on grounds of nationality” (Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). At first glance, this accusation seemed no less logical and obvious than attempted murder. Wielding a knife in the synagogue, he, according to eyewitnesses, shouted: “Heil Hitler,” “Death to the Jews,” “People like you must be crushed,” etc. But the judge justified his decision by the fact that Koptsev read and “absorbed” anti-Semitic literature and ideas from various sources himself, did not share them with anyone, and, therefore, could not arouse hatred and enmity in anyone.
This turn in the “Koptsev case” caused a sharp reaction from human rights activists and Jewish organizations. Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar said yesterday: “Yes, the sentence is harsh and adequate to the gravity of the crime. But at the same time, I am frankly concerned about the downright manic reluctance of the courts to classify crimes of this kind as incitement of national or religious hatred. This largely neutralizes the educational effect severe sentence.” This decision seems all the more controversial because during the trial itself, anti-Semitic and racist slogans were publicly heard many times by “sympathizers” of Koptsev, and yesterday they were shouted especially violently.
A huge number of people gathered for the announcement of the verdict. At the entrance to the Moscow City Court, a dozen picketers from the Nashi movement were stationed. Smiling, the young people held posters in their hands: “Koptsev is 16, Rogozin is retired, Limonov is ?” One of the picketers explained his presence as follows: “Russian youth condemns Koptsev’s act and demands to find those who provoked this.” However, since this action was unsanctioned, the police took several “Nashi” to the police department.
The main passions flared up in the Moscow City Court itself, where numerous “sympathizers” with Koptsev were divided into three “camps”. Some stood quietly on the sidelines and waited to be let into the hall. Among them were anti-Semitic publisher Viktor Korchagin, twice convicted of inciting ethnic hatred, as well as young people from the National Socialist Union and the People's National Party.
Other “sympathizers” had a violent temperament. Two women from a certain Christian Union, pressing Koptsev’s parents, advised them to go to the Supreme Court and demand “an analysis of the political situation that led Sasha to such an act.” And a group posing as Koptsev’s relatives called him “a Russian hero and patriot” and demanded that the media help release “their Sashenka from prison,” as well as “punish the authorities in the person of the Jewish president for the genocide of the Russian people.”
And finally, the third, most numerous group, completely openly and without hesitation, demanded simply “shoot all the Jews” and “put an end to the Jewish mafia.” All discussions were observed by two mysterious men in dark suits with small silver shield badges on the lapels of their jackets. As soon as the “sympathizers” started another dispute, they delicately, but at the same time without hiding, approached and listened carefully. Who they were remained a mystery. The men did not engage in any conversations.
The trial itself in the “Koptsev case” took place in a small hall, into which not everyone was allowed in due to lack of space. On the occasion of the verdict, a more spacious room was allocated. However, when the doors to the hall opened, a stampede began, giving rise to a new wave of anti-Semitic speeches. “Jews only allow Jews into the hall. Let the Russian people in,” some shouted. “Let Grandma Sasha in, let in Aunt Sashenkina,” others shouted.
When everyone was finally seated, judge Dmitry Fomin began announcing the verdict. He had to read the text under the monotonous reading of prayers by women in black scarves and loud dialogues of “sympathizers.” The judge, having found the defendant guilty of attempted murder, dropped the charge against him under Art. 282. The judge explained this decision by the fact that by his actions Koptsev did not seek to arouse hostility towards Jews in society, but organized a stabbing in the synagogue only out of a feeling of personal hostility. This means that these actions fully fit into another article brought against Koptsev - “attempted murder of two or more persons motivated by national hatred.”
According to the judge, reflected in the verdict, after the incident, citizens flared up with hatred, first of all, towards Koptsev himself, and letters of sympathy were sent to the synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya, as Rabbi Isaac Kogan and the victims’ lawyers testified in court. As the judge noted, although Koptsev shouted anti-Semitic slogans, he did not count on publicity. The verdict took into account the words of Koptsev himself, who at the trial claimed that he “went to the synagogue to die”, that “he would not leave the synagogue alive and no one would know what happened there.” Fomin also mentioned that the purpose of Koptsev’s act, according to his admissions, “was reincarnation and access to a higher level of development,” and not the propaganda of anti-Semitic ideas.
Having first voiced mitigating circumstances - a positive reference from the place of residence and study, illness of both eyes, mental illness, as well as the death of his sister, and then aggravating circumstances - the crime was committed with a weapon, as well as causing grave consequences, he announced the main decision - 13 years of imprisonment in a maximum security colony.
After these words, the “sympathizers” jumped up from their seats and began shouting to the retreating Mr. Fomin: “The judge is a Jewish face,” etc. And numerous grandmothers began to call the convict “Russian Ilya Muromets.” And some immediately found some hidden meaning in the verdict: “They gave 13 years - a satanic sentence, a satanic judge, but he will be released from prison at the age of Christ.”
Commenting on the verdict, the victims' lawyers admitted that they were unhappy with it. “The decision to remove Article 282 is not legal, but political. This is nonsense in jurisprudence. How is it possible, recognizing that the actions were committed based on national hatred - on the one hand, and that they were committed in public, but at the same time not admit that these actions were aimed at inciting hatred and humiliating national dignity? - Vadim Klyuvgant was surprised. “If journalists paid attention, then in the very text of the verdict there was a phrase that admitting Koptsev’s guilt in committing crimes under Article 282 would be an admission that these trends exist in our society,” noted Vitaly Khavkin. According to the defenders, they will definitely appeal the verdict regarding the acquittal of Alexander Koptsev under Article 282.
Koptsev’s defense, in turn, stated that it was their victory and it was their merit that the anti-Semite was acquitted of at least something. “We will definitely write objections to the cassation appeal filed by the victims,” noted lawyer Vladimir Kirsanov. “But it’s still a harsh sentence.” He didn't kill anyone. His parents will be old when he comes out. He's almost blind. His vision is deteriorating catastrophically. There is a document according to which people with diseases like Koptsev’s are not subject to being in prison.”