Translated material
Navalny's trial. Day seven
Photo: Sergey Brovko/KommersantAfter a break, hearings in the Kirovles case resumed in Kirov. Witness Andrei Votinov, who in 2009 worked as an adviser to the governor of the Kirov region, gave his testimony. He tried to read out a statement about Opalev’s false testimony, in his opinion, but the judge did not allow him to do so. PublicPost broadcast from the courtroom.
16:00 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The defense is asking to postpone tomorrow's hearing: in parallel with the Kirovles trial, the Pervomaisky Court of Kirov will consider an appeal of the search at Navalny's headquarters, the hearing will take place at 13:00.
Blinov advises lawyers to go to the Pervomaisky Court now to familiarize themselves with the materials. He refuses to postpone the meeting, saying that he will let everyone go early tomorrow.
That's all for today. The hearing is adjourned until 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 21.
15:52 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The prosecutors continue their reading, Navalny, laughing, posts something on Twitter, Judge Blinov is motionless, looking at one point.
15:31 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The prosecutor reads out reports from experts who examined Navalny's signatures on documents.
Photo: Maria Eismont
15:18 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
An endless list of folders, transparent folders, accounting logs, folders with contracts, folders with orders, folders with supplier invoices, folders indicating dismissed employees, folders with time sheets, plastic folders, cover letters, acts of reconciliation of mutual settlements is listed. ..
15:09 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
They read out the “Decree on the cancellation of the resolution.” Now the prosecutor reads the “Report on the discovery of crime objects.” “The wood chips must have been found,” suggests someone from the audience.
Photo: Maria Eismont
14:47 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The reading of the resolutions continues. The prosecutor reached August 2012.
14:35 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
“Navalny and Officers did not commit any actions aimed at deception...” the prosecutor reads. It is he who announces the resolution to terminate the criminal case, the first closed by the Kirov department of the Investigative Committee (its head, Panov, resigned, he says, of his own free will, but many consider the resignation to be political, because the head of the Investigative Committee, Bastrykin, shouted at him at the board meeting).
Photo: Maria Eismont
14:16 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The reading continues. The prosecutor reads out nine sheets of the decision to terminate the criminal case under Article 165 of the Criminal Code. What follows is the fascinating story of how Navalny and Ofitserov met.
14:04 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The prosecutor reads out the resolution to initiate a criminal case against Navalny at inhuman speed. He reads out his lawyer’s number, a notice that Navalny is a defendant in the case along with Ofitserov... It’s quite difficult to perceive this aurally.
Photo: Maria Eismont
13:56 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The court granted the petition, the written materials of the case, volumes 1-7, were read out.
The prosecutor asks the media broadcasting the broadcast to put the 18+ icon, since the text of the materials contains “a lot of obscene expressions.”
13:48 Anna Veduta, press secretary of Alexei Navalny
Now we'll have some fun. Prosecutors want to read the wiretap from the case. THE SAME ONE.
13:41 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The defense needs time to familiarize itself with the stated evidence; the lawyers ask for a thirty-minute break for this. Blinov allocates ten minutes.
Photo: Maria Eismont
13:36 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The hearings are ongoing.
The court decided to continue them without Kobelev's lawyer.
Blinov reads out the summons from Solikamsk - witness Baranov is on a business trip and cannot come to the trial. Witness Knyazev is on sick leave. They cannot find the witness Arzamastsev; he is on the international wanted list.
Prosecutors propose moving on to examining written evidence.
12:50
“The poster “Honk for Navalny” is not new - it hung on the pole last week, and, it seems, the week before. But today a very polite traffic cop asked to remove it from the pole - because it looks like a sign, but such signs do not exist.” You can hold it, please,” he explained, “but it cannot hang on a pole.”
Photo: Maria Eismont
Then Navalny’s supporters figured out how to secure the sign while freeing their hands. Some cars actually honk their horns as they drive by.
Photo: Maria Eismont
12:34 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Votinov wants to make a statement, but the judge does not allow him. Davydov's lawyer asks to leave Votinov in the courtroom while other witnesses are questioned: it may be necessary to re-examine Opalev. Blinov rejects the petition.
There are no more witnesses today. Blinov announces a break until 13:30.
12:26 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
The judge asks Votinov why he was convicted and in what capacity Opalev was involved in that case.
Votinov replies: “Article 159, part 4 (“Fraud”). Opalev was held as a key witness.”
Judge: “Do you want to draw a parallel in this regard?”
Votinov: “Yes, I have already tried to do this. Indeed, despite the fact that I have a lot of disagreements with Alexei, there is a moment that confuses and worries me.”
Judge: “I haven’t given you permission to explain it yet. Do you know certain facts about Opalev’s interest in the outcome of this case?”
Votinov: “In this case, no.”
Photo: Maria Eismont
Judge: "Tell me, how can a statement in your case affect this case?"
Votinov: “Because in my case everything was based on testimony. Opalev gave untruthful, dishonest testimony against me.”
Judge: “Tell me again: do you know something?”
Votinov: “I just wanted to characterize him as a person. He is an untruthful, dishonest person who can mislead the respected court.”
12:19 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Navalny: “Do you think that Opalev was misleading about the real state of affairs in Kirovles?”
Votinov: “Yes, I think so.”
Navalny: “Do you think this was disinformation?”
Votinov: “Yes, I think so.”
Photo: Maria Eismont
12:14 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Votinov is asked to briefly characterize Opalev.
Votinov (unequivocally): “The man is dishonest and dishonest. He came with me, voiced his position, and behind my back he said the exact opposite.”
Navalny: “Did Opalev have any motives to slander me?”
Votinov: “I am in control of my situation, but not yours.”
12:12 Anna Veduta, press secretary of Alexei Navalny
Votinov: “Opalev was a bad manager, he needed to stop the reorganization of the enterprise, and in order to stop him, he slandered me. During the trial, from his testimony that he gave in relation to me, it became obvious that he was committing perjury.
Davydova: “What should the reorganization of KOGUP be expressed in?”
Votinov: “There was only one task - to create a government-controlled and managed enterprise. At that time, the enterprise had huge debts to the regional government that were not being repaid.”
12:09 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Votinov continues to talk about the lack of control of Kirovles and sabotage on the part of forestry directors.
Votinov: “In my verdict, the prosecution was based on the testimony of one witness - Opalev, his testimony was untruthful...”
The judge asks to say only what is relevant to the case. When asked by Navalny to characterize Opalev, Votinov said: “He is a good forester, but a leader and a forester are two different things. I believe that he is an ineffective manager.”
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Photo: Maria Eismont
11:58 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Officers: “Do you remember what I was wearing on that trip?”
Votinov: “I don’t remember.”
Navalny asks to describe the state of the Kirovles enterprise.
Photo: Maria Eismont
Votinov: “A very difficult situation, problems with sales, ineffective management, the enterprise was in a difficult situation.”
Navalny: “Were there problems with sales?”
Votinov: “There were problems with sales.”
Navalny: “Did Opalev contact the governor with a request to help with sales?”
Votinov: “Yes, not only Opalev, the heads of a number of forestry enterprises contacted. There was complete decentralization, and I know the heads of forestry enterprises who directly addressed the governor.”
Navalny: “Explain what you mean by decentralization? To what extent were forestry directors subordinate? Was there a unified accounting department?”
Votinov: “There was parochialism, each director of the forestry enterprise felt like a prince in his own territory. It was a mess.”
11:50 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Votinov tells how he visited forestry enterprises together with Opalev. On one of the trips Officers joined them. Then Votinov met him at the government building.
Votinov heard about Navalny at that time, or saw him personally - he cannot say for sure, “maybe he met him in the government.”
11:48 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Votinov was brought from the colony for interrogation, he gives testimony from his cell, documents are pushed through the bars for him to sign. His wife Katya came to the trial.
Photo: Maria Eismont
11:35 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Blinov announces a ten-minute break. After him, witness Votinov will be brought into the hall; in 2009, he worked as an adviser to the governor of the Kirov region.
11:33 Anna Veduta, press secretary of Alexei Navalny
11:29 Anna Veduta, press secretary of Alexei Navalny
Minin: “The existence of forest traders is an established practice, there is nothing surprising about it.”
Navalny: “Do you have information that the agreement was concluded under duress?”
Minin: "No."
Navalny: “Have you ever heard my last name in this context?”
M: "No."
11:22 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Opalev, says Minin, came to their enterprise several times, discussed the terms of delivery, concluded an agreement, but there were no deliveries.
Navalny asks Minin to explain what the word “trader” means?
An intermediary between the enterprise and the client, Minin answers.
"Is this criminal activity?" - asks Navalny. “No,” answers Minin.
11:17 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Witness Panteleev is replaced by witness Mikhail Minin; in 2009 he worked at Investlesprom CJSC. He personally knows Ofitserov, but not Navalny.
Photo: Maria Eismont
11:14 Anna Veduta, press secretary of Alexei Navalny
The judge asks: “How did you know that prices for products are set by VLK, and not by KOGUP?”
Witness: “Only from the words of the KOGUP accounting department. We did not contact VLK directly.
Judge: “It turns out that the fact that there was a debt from VLK is also only from the words of the accounting department?”
Witness: "Yes."
Officers: “You didn’t contact the VLK, you didn’t contact me? Are all issues of interaction with the VLK only through KOGUP?”
Witness: “Yes, that’s right.”
11:13 Yuri Maloveryan, correspondent for the BBC Russian service
It’s interesting that Judge Blinov himself hardly asks the witnesses any questions. Doesn't want to get involved? Is everything clear? Don't want to delay?
11:08 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Governor Nikita Belykh writes on Twitter that he is in Moscow today. The journalists at the trial were very indignant - everyone was hoping to see him in court as a witness.
11:01 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Judge Blinov notes with a smile that the defense itself is now asking for the testimony to be read out in connection with the contradictions, although previously it objected to the prosecution's reading out the testimonies. Davydov's lawyer notes the difference: they ask for early testimony to be read AFTER the witness has been questioned by the opposing side.
Navalny reads it out, Panteleev claims that there are no particular contradictions in his testimony.
Navalny: “What would have happened to the fourth grade board if there had been no cooperation with the VLK?”
Panteleev: “It would have been written off and gone at a loss.”
10:58 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Navalny: “At the time of signing the contract, did it seem profitable to you?”
Panteleev: “At the time of the conclusion it was unprofitable because the price was falling, but if this had continued further and if the prices had not changed...”
Navalny: “You sold at market prices.”
Panteleev: “According to market prices.”
Navalny: “If we don’t talk about debt, was the supply agreement unprofitable or profitable?”
Panteleev: “It was profitable. But less profitable than if it were sold directly.”
Navalny asks to read out Panteleev’s testimony in connection with the contradictions in terms of assessing the profitability or unprofitability of cooperation between his forestry enterprise and VLK.
10:54 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Panteleev says that at first it was beneficial for him to cooperate with VLK. “They took away what was difficult to implement.
Photo: Maria Eismont
Answering Ofitserov’s question, Panteleev said that VLK took about 50 percent of low-grade products, which is a good indicator in the forestry industry.
Previously, Larisa Bastrygina, who acted as a witness for the prosecution, argued that VLK was only interested in “business” (high-quality) wood, and sold no more than 5% of low-grade wood. The officers then insisted that it was no less than 45%.
10:43 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
After a five-minute break, witness Sergei Panteleev, ex-head of the Uninsky forestry enterprise, was invited into the hall.
Panteleev: “We shipped forest products to VLK several times. The first time payment was made in full, the second time too. Payment for two cars did not go through. The amount of non-payment amounted to 750 thousand, after the trial (Kirovles appealed to the arbitration court - editor’s note) it was paid part, the remaining debt of VLK to the forestry enterprise is 550 thousand.”
10:37 Leonid Volkov, deputy of the Yekaterinburg City Duma
The prosecution still has about 130 million witnesses who have not worked with VLK, have not bought timber, and do not understand the assortment.
10:30 Anna Veduta, press secretary of Alexei Navalny
Svetochka Davydova continues to butcher witness Sergeev to pieces. He’s almost crying here, his voice breaks, he turns red, turns pale - he’s LIE.
Davydova petitions for the disclosure of the case materials regarding documentation in connection with the extensive sclerosis of the senior in sneakers and sweatpants.
10:22 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Witness Sergeev, when asked if VLK is familiar to him: “This company is familiar because Opalev announced the information that we had to deliver all our products through this company.”
Prosecutor: "When?"
Witness: “I don’t remember.”
Prosecutor: “Were representatives of the VLK present at the meeting?”
Witness: “Representatives of the VLK were present at the meeting, but I no longer remember their faces.”
Prosecutor: “Did someone speak from the VLK?”
Witness: "I don't remember."
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Photo: Maria Eismont
Traditionally, one of the most common answers to the question is: “I don’t remember, I won’t remember now.” He remembers that the prices were not satisfactory and that it took a long time to pay. In the end, according to the witness, they did not work with VLK.
“What scheme did the VLK work with you?” - asks Ofitserov.
The witness doesn't remember.
Officers: “How is it that you remember discussions with strangers and their dissatisfaction with cooperation with the VLK, but don’t remember what was related to your immediate responsibilities?”
Lawyer: “Did you work with VLK?”
Witness: "No."
Lawyer: “Have you seen at least one document on pricing from VLK?”
Witness: "No."
Lawyer: “How can you then judge that the prices were unprofitable if you haven’t seen a single document?”
Witness: “That means no way.”
Lawyer: “Actually, that’s what I wanted to hear from you: it means no way.”
10:08 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
The blueberries are released. Witness Nikita Sergeev, in 2009 - director of the Zuevsky rural forestry enterprise, is invited to the hall.
10:06 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Navalny: “Did you have information that the agreement between you and the VLK was concluded under duress and that cooperation with the VLK was based on some kind of coercion?”
Witness: “I’ve known Opalev for a long time, if they decided to work through VLK, then this is necessary. There was complete trust.”
Navalny: “So if there was something like that (pressure), Opalev would have told you?”
The witness confirmed that there was trust, but there was no information about pressure.
09:59 Anna Veduta, press secretary of Alexei Navalny
Navalny: “How do you assess the role of Kirovles in the woodworking industry?”
Chernik: “His volumes on the market were small, he was not a monopolist, and did not set prices.”
Navalny: “What is the reason for this paradoxical situation?”
Chernik: “I don’t know what the problem is, there may be some internal problems in their board.”
Navalny: “But could you buy more from them?”
Chernik: “Yes, we wanted to buy more, but they didn’t sell.”
Navalny: “Were there any problems with the documentation?”
Chernik: “I don’t know.”
Navalny: “When supplies through VLK stopped, after that Kirovles didn’t supply you anymore?”
Chernik: “Yes, the contract was not terminated, but there were no deliveries.”
Officers: “Did the price include delivery?”
Chernik: "Of course."
09:56 Roman Pereverzev, civil activist
The police are with the people.
09:51 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Chernik recalls details of work with Kirovles, his supplier, but cannot remember whether the contract was concluded at the beginning of 2009. According to him, they did not work with VLK for long.
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Photo: Maria Eismont
09:43 Daniil Kolomiychuk/PublicPost
Fedotov is released. Witness Sergei Chernik was called; in 2009, he was the director of the Kirov furniture and woodworking plant.
Blinov reads him the rights of responsibility.
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Photo: RAPSI
09:32 Maria Eismont/PublicPost
Navalny clarifies the purpose of Belykh’s trip to Solikamskbumprom: is it true that Belykh wanted to help enterprises in the Kirov region by increasing quotas? The witness agrees.
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Photo: Maria Eismont
Navalny: “Does it often happen that the governor of another region comes?”
Fedotov: “No, not often.”
Navalny: “Was Solikamskbumprom, in principle, ready to increase quotas?
Fedotov: “Most likely so.”
Navalny: "Was the governor in a somewhat strange, stupid situation, because he went to Solikamsk, agreed, but in the end there were no deliveries? Was there a strange feeling?"
Fedotov: "We work, and give an assessment from more definite concepts - price, volume, we do not evaluate the actions of the governor."
Fedotov agrees that they were better in contact with other organizations than with Kirovles, but is extremely careful in assessments: Navalny’s words that the work of Kirovles did not go due to the general stupidity of Kirovles, it is difficult for him to confirm in such expressions, although in fact he agrees.
09:22 Maria Aismont
Witness Fedotov does not know either Navalny or Officer, he does not feel hostility towards them. They worked, including with Kirovles.
SolikamskBumprom is often given by the defense as an example of successful VLK lobbying using the Governor of Nikita White Extensions for Kirovles Products. As the officers told in an interview with PublicPost , negotiations were successfully held, quotas were expanded, but the forests in the end did not wait for Kirovles.
Answering questions of the prosecution, the witness talks about the trip of the governor of the Kirov region to his enterprise. "A conversation was held in the president’s office, on which we introduced the (white) with the conditions on which the SolikamskBumprom works.
Deliveries from the Kirov region could be increased, says Fedotov. He talks about a letter that came and was signed by the "representative of the Governor Navalny." "Mentioned" Kirovles "and the Vyatka forest company." The letter was "informative": there was a meeting, and here is a continuation. A letter of politeness: they say, I met, the work is going on, but so far there are no results. ”
09:08 Daniil Kolomiychuk/publicpost
The process has begun. The judge reads the list of witnesses that appeared and delivered to court. These are Fedotov, Chernik, Sergeev and Votinov.
The first called Alexei Fedotov, the director of the SolikamskBumprom forestry supply.
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Photo: RAPSI
09:00 Maria Aismont
The most interesting point in today's meeting is expected by the interrogation of Andrei Votinov, former assistant Nikita Belykh, convicted a year ago for fraud for 3.5 years of colony. Votinov’s case is also connected with Kirovles - he was accused of demanding a bribe with Opalyu to leave him and save the enterprise.
At one of the first meetings, he was brought to court, but he refused to testify without his Perm lawyer, interrogated. Judging by the fact that one of the microphones stands next to the cage, today Votinov will testify.
08:46 Maria Aismont/Publicpost
The Lenin court in Kirov will no longer be loud music and songs. The city administration agreed only pickets, but not a rally.
According to Nikolai Lyaskin, last week three complaints immediately came to the supporters of Navalny - from the court, the puppet theater and mail. They complained about a loud sound that interferes with working, but activists are sure that it was a matter of the content of songs.
So today are standard pickets - on the one hand, the puppet theater is Navalny’s supporters, on the other - the postcards are opponents. So far, less than 10 people are everywhere.
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Photo: Maria Aismont
The "beer courtyard" is a restaurant opposite the court, where most journalists and activists have spent time from the beginning of the process and which specially changed the work schedule, returned to the usual graphics - opening from 11 o’clock.
Photo: Maria Aismont
According to the investigation, a member of the opposition coordination council, blogger, creator of Rospil and RosZHKH projects Alexei Navalny organized theft of the forest in 2009, when he was an adviser to the governor of the Kirov region. Together with the director of the Vyatka Forest Company LLC, Peter Officer and CEO of KOGUP Kirovles KOGUP Vyacheslav Opalev, from May to September 2009, abducted 10 thousand cubic meters of forest products, said in the TFR. As a result, the Kirov region was underway more than 16 million rubles from the budget.
Navalny was accused of organizing a large embezzlement of someone else's property (Article 33, Article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), Ofitserov - of complicity (Article 33, Article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Vyacheslav Opalev pleaded guilty and decided on a deal with the investigation, so his criminal case was investigated separately. As a result, the court found the CEO of Kirovles guilty, on the basis of his recognition and the whole process is built.