The court extended for three months the term of detention of Plato Lebedev

The Meshchansky court extended until March 26 the term of detention of the head of the MFI Menatep Platon Lebedev.

Thus, the court granted the request of the prosecutor to extend the terms of preliminary imprisonment for another three months.

Prosecutor Dmitry Shokhin motivated his petition by the fact that at large Lebedev could influence witnesses and hide from the court. In addition, the prosecutor emphasized that the defendant was accused of committing serious crimes, Interfax reports.

In turn, the defense of the head of the MFI Menatep asked to refuse to refuse to satisfy the request. Lebedev’s defense believes that the petition was submitted prematurely. “The term of its detention was determined until December 26, and today only the 14th,” said lawyer Elena Lipzer.

The Lybedev’s statement could put pressure on witnesses who are in material dependence, Lipzer replied: “During the trial, witnesses of the prosecution of Lebedev’s questions, whether he had ever exerted pressure on them and whether witnesses were in material dependence, answered negatively.”

Lipzer called one of the grounds for canceling a preventive measure in the form of a Lebedev’s conclusion in custody.

The defense of the ex-head of the Yukos Mikhail Khodorkovsky also insisted on refusing to satisfy the petition of the prosecutor to extend Lebedev in custody. "Of course, I do not hope for success, but I ask you to refuse to refuse to refuse," Mikhail Khodorkovsky said about this.

But the court agreed with the arguments of the prosecutor that Plato Lebedev could hide from the court and affect the judicial investigation, and also influence witnesses.

"The measure of restraint Plato Lebedev was elected by the Basmann court and was repeatedly extended. The court takes into account the data of the defendant, as well as the fact that he is accused of committing a number of crimes, some of which belong to the category of grave," the court decision notes.

In particular, the decision says, the court takes into account Lebedev’s health, which is regarded as satisfactory.

“The court also takes into account certificates that Lebedev suffers from a number of chronic diseases that are not included in the list of diseases, due to which he cannot be detained,” said the chairman Irina Kolesnikova, reading the decision.

Earlier, the Beschansky court extended until February 14 the term of detention of the ex-head of Yukos Mikhail Khodorkovsky.