The trial of the editor of "Free Speech"

On April 5, 2005, the trial of Pavel Lyuzakov, editor-in-chief of the Svobodnoe Slovo and Separatist newspapers, began in the Ostankinsky Court of Moscow, who is accused of illegal acquisition and possession of a pistol. However, the strange circumstances of the case suggest a provocation planned against the journalist.

On January 20, 2005, P. Lyuzakov was detained near the VDNKh metro station. During the arrest, a combat pistol "TT" and 8 rounds of ammunition were confiscated from him. Lyuzakov himself claims that a combat pistol was slipped to him instead of a gas one.

The first witness to testify at the trial, Kandybayev, senior detective of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the North-Eastern District, said that on January 15 "information was received that Lyuzakov was carrying a pistol with him . " And on January 20, "a certain source" told him that the journalist would be at the VDNKh metro station that evening, and stressed that Pavel would have a combat pistol with him.

Another witness, Alexander Yumashov (who, according to Lyuzakov, gave him a “gas pistol” that evening near the metro station) told the court that he had not given any pistol to the journalist.

Due to the absence of witnesses, the hearing of the case was postponed to April 14, 2005. Lyuzakov faces up to 4 years in prison.

Sources

• Berseneva A. Mysterious pistol // Novye Izvestia. 2005. April 6.
• Spirin Y. Correspondent of "Kavkaz-Center" is on trial for carrying a weapon // News. 2005. 7 April.