The trial of a neo-Nazi accused of beating an anti-fascist woman on the basis of ideological hatred began in Izhevsk

Today, the Supreme Court of Udmurtia started a trial in the criminal case of 20-year-old neo-Nazi Alexander Krinitsin. Such a trial risks becoming a nationwide precedent, as the defendant admitted that he had beaten a 19-year-old...

Today, the Supreme Court of Udmurtia started a trial in the criminal case of 20-year-old neo-Nazi Alexander Krinitsin. Such a trial risks becoming a nationwide precedent, as the defendant admitted that he beat 19-year-old Galina Shutova on ideological grounds for her anti-fascist views. This was reported to Novaya Gazeta at the Kama Human Rights Center, which represents the interests of the victim.

On January 14 of this year, an active participant in the anti-fascist movement in Izhevsk, Galina Shutova, was returning home from a sports club. According to investigators, the defendant approached her on a dark street, asked if she was really a member of the local Antifa, and, having received an affirmative answer, struck the first blow. When the girl fell, Krinitsin, according to the case file, kicked her several times in the head and then disappeared.

Today, Judge Albina Ovchinnikova noted that the case is being considered in a special manner, since the accused fully admitted his guilt during the investigation. An indictment was announced in which Krinitsin was charged with beatings out of hooligan motives based on ideological hatred and enmity (clauses a, b, part 2 of article 116 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). In conclusion, it was emphasized that Krinitsin had long been fond of the ideas of fascism and racism, and this was not his first trial related to the ideological intolerance of the defendant.

The young neo-Nazi was already convicted last year in a case concerning his nationalist views. Then he drew a "swastika" and offensive inscriptions on the building of the Public Jewish Charitable Foundation and received 3 years of probation for vandalism with a two-year probationary period. It is worth noting that at the time of today's hearing, the accused is already in custody, but in a different case. He is suspected of manufacturing and storing explosives, according to one version, with the aim of sabotaging a concert of Izhevsk anti-fascists.

The young man declared that he adhered and would adhere in the future to National Socialist views. He attacked the victim, according to him, because he had seen her earlier in the photographs of local "anti-fascists" and deliberately decided to harm her. However, in his opinion, the case was "painfully decorated." “I hold such views, but I am not a member of any fascist organization, since we do not have one in Izhevsk,” the defendant said. Later, in the photographs seized by the investigation from the defendant's personal albums, Krinitsin "did not recognize" his comrades in the fascist movement.

Today, in his speech, public prosecutor Bulat Karimov noted that the defendant had already been sentenced on probation, and his probationary period had not passed. Karimov also reminded the court that the defendant's nationalist views are dangerous to others, and the cases involving him gave rise to "a wave of public indignation." The prosecutor demanded for Krinitsin to cancel the conditional sentence and replace it with a real one - 3.5 years in a penal colony.

Vyacheslav Erokhin, the defendant's lawyer, did not agree with the conclusion of the prosecution. He referred to the fact that Krinitsin admitted his guilt and "even repents of his deed." The lawyer asked the court to reduce the sentence.

Prikamsk human rights activists generally supported the public prosecutor. At the same time, they emphasized that there could be no question of any declared repentance, since Krinitsin, firstly, did not admit to participating in neo-fascist organizations, although there are materials in the case that testify to the contrary, and secondly, the young man intends to adhere to his views in the future: “Where is repentance here?”.

The neo-Nazi Alexander Krinitsin refused the last word. The Supreme Court of Udmurtia will issue a verdict on May 26.