Dashing from the nineties

Recently a frequent hero of the news became "famous lawyer Mark Feygin." He gives interviews, speaks on issues of current politics - in general, turned into a media character. And already It seems that this name has always been around. But the general public is little known the thorny and winding path of lawyer Mark Feygin to fame. That's why "Owl" decided to learn more about his biography.

Feigin is of interest to us primarily because which protects the interests of many oppositionists, sometimes with completely opposite glances. So, for example, after the resonant but failed defense of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova from Pussy Riot (The fact that the defense really was a “failure” was also written by former clients [1] , and fellow lawyers [2] ), lawyer with no less zeal undertook to represent the interests of an activist of the nationalist organization "Russian Image" by Ilya Goryachev, who did not hide his connection with The Administration of the President of the Russian Federation and the accused are now complicit in a series of political assassinations, including the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and a journalist Anastasia Baburova January 19, 2009

Part first. DS, NTS, DVR - further everywhere

Feigin himself considers himself a native of the 90s. IN confirmation of this, he publishes a post on the main page of his site with the following content: "My virtual diary, and the site is largely designed to fill this particular function, there is frank and praising the anthem of the 90s. I come from there and if I had choice, I would generally prefer to stay there forever. Cocktail out of danger and freedom - that's what the 90s were for me. Fans of those glorious and risky years, This site is dedicated to the heroes of the last days of democracy in Russia. Carlos Castaneda, as if specially for us, wrote: “Freedom is an adventure, to which there is no end, in which we risk life and even more than life, in the name of a few moments of something is beyond words, thoughts and feelings”” [3] .

He took his first steps as a public figure in 1989: 17-year-old boy Mark Feigin came to the Samara organization of the party "Democratic Union" [4] . At that time, the "Democratic Union", whose leader was Valeria Novodvorskaya, was famous as the first organization to openly oppose itself "guiding and directing" the CPSU. However, in 1990-1991, the "Democratic Union" survived a series of splits and lost its former popularity.

In 1990, Mark Feigin joins People's Labor Union of Russian Solidarists (NTS). This organization, founded among Russian emigrants in the first half of the XX century, by the period of "perestroika" adhered to generally moderate conservative views, but was previously known for the eclectic views of the participants, including including openly ultra-right [5] . Feigin became the head of the Samara branch of the party, and since 1993 - the Volga region regional office, and edited the regional newspaper of the People's Labor Union "Third Force" [6] .

Active work in the NTS did not prevent M. Feigin join in 1991 the movement "Democratic Russia". For 1992 he was the head of his Samara regional departments. In 1993, Feigin was already the coordinator Samara regional branch of the socio-political bloc "Choice Russia". As a result of the election campaign, the future the lawyer receives a mandate as a deputy of the State Duma (Russia's Choice faction). Since 1994, he has been involved in the activities of the definitely liberal Democratic Party. choice of Russia” (FER) [7] (it is noteworthy that the history of the Samara organization The DVR is associated with scandals and litigation [8] ). In the same 1994, Feigin leaves the incoming into a clear decline of the NTS [8] .

The further life path of Mark Feigin is well known for of that time is quite typical: 1993-1996 - Deputy of the State Duma, member of the Committee on Local Self-Government. From 1997 to 2007 M. Feigin - Deputy Head of Administration of the city of Samara, representative administration of Samara in Moscow. After some time, the mayor of Samara Georgy Limansky caught in ties with criminal structures, and in 2006 Limansky left your post [10] .

Left without a job, M. Feigin returns to political activity. Since July 2006 he has been involved in the activities Russian National Democratic Union M. Kasyanov, in December 2008 enters the movement "Solidarity" [11] . And soon begins a career as a lawyer.

Part second. The Devil's Lawyer

Mark Feigin received a higher legal education. His personal website says: “In 1995 he graduated from Samara State University (legal faculty). In 2000 he graduated from the Institute of Business and Business Administration Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation (Moscow), faculty “Strategic control". In 2002 - the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation" [12] . Feigin has a PhD in Law [13] .

According to the Moscow legal center”, the activity of M. Feigin as a lawyer begins with 2010 [14] . A novice lawyer actively develops the image of a "guy with iron balls", as expressed his colleague lawyer Nikolai Polozov [15] .

One of the first known defendants Feygin became a politician, a left-wing Islamist philosopher, head of "Islamic Committee" Heydar Jemal. Tried to accuse him of extremism Deputy of the State Duma from United Russia, well-known leader of Russia Young "Maxim Mishchenko. According to the Forbidden Art website, the MP sent a corresponding request to the prosecutor's office [16] . However, the case, which had obvious political overtones, fell apart. In our opinion, there was no special merit of the lawyer in this, although G. Dzhemal himself claims the opposite [17] .

In the practice of M. Feigin there are several high-profile cases. However, his activities in the legal field were assessed very ambiguously. So, Feigin was removed from the case of Leonid Razvozzhaev in 2013 [18] , Previously, the agreement to protect the member of “Pussy Riot” was terminated with him. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova [19] .

In 2013, Feigin became a client Ilya Goryachev, arrested in Serbia. In response to public amazement, why he defends the interests of the nationalist involved in the murder of lawyer S. Markelov, Feigin explained this by his indifferent attitude towards Serbia: they say, he participated in military operations in Yugoslavia and was even a sniper [20] .

The latter is hard to believe, because in the first half of the 90s, Feigin explained his unwillingness to serve in the Russian army "pacifist beliefs". [21]

However, it is more likely assert that Feigin was indeed in prison for quite a short time Serbia. “... In 1993, I really passed almost the entire territory of the warring Serbian enclaves. I served in the Russian division, which stood near Knin, right on the border of the Serbian Krajina and Croatia" [22] .

At the same time, since the autumn of 1993, Feigin has not just participated in the election campaign, but was the coordinator of the Samara regional branch socio-political bloc "Russia's Choice". It is unlikely that he could break away from pre-election affairs for several months or even weeks.

Most likely Fagin updated its presence in the Balkans in 1993 in order to attract attention to the case of Goryachev, extradited from Serbia. After all, for the famous lawyer, his practice is a kind of springboard into big politics with marginal edge.

About the political component of his Law practice Feigin speaks openly, for example, in an interview:

“- Mark, why did you decide to take up the case Goryachev? After all, you yourself understand that your client, to put it mildly, is not very good reputation, especially in right-wing circles. He cannot be called a hero and a martyr. Many simply consider him a snitch, remembering the Tikhonov/Khasis trial.

- IN first of all, this is the appeal of Goryachev himself (through his associates). Besides, this case is politically biased, and I am interested in such processes. Perhaps, that I am one of the few Russian lawyers who, with good reason, can be to be considered an expert in such matters. I know what to do and how to do it. I won't hide publicity is important here - it is always more difficult for the prosecution to work with persons to whom riveted the attention of the public and the press” [23] .

That law practice for Feygin this is primarily a political activity, the words of G. Dzhemal confirm: “Feygin came to search my apartment. and another well-known lawyer who was recommended to me by very serious People. The second lawyer, without hesitation, appointed a fee, and when I raised this topic with Mark, he raised his eyebrows in surprise and asked what the fees could be for political protection, because it is free” [24] .

It should be noted that the lawyer Feygin’s practice has several well-known cases: he defended the activist of the Other Russia Olga Komarova, in 2013 represented the interests of a Kazakh oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, who was arrested in France. He himself about his clients prefers not to spread and comments on his activities as follows way: “ I defended many people, in mainly in political affairs " [25] .

Part third. Prospects for the Feigin Case

However, hardly professional activity brings Feigin a lot of income if he does conduct "mainly political affairs". Even the case of Mukhtar Ablyazov, according to Feygin - first of all, a story about political persecution the convictions of the Kazakh oppositionist [26] . It is common for the average Moscow lawyer to handle many cases at the same time, and one high-profile political case accounts for a mass of quiet purely criminal ones, uninteresting to the public (we all remember how the same Stanislav Markelov worked).

We don't take assert, but possibly active spouse M. Feygin Natalya Kharitonova in the field of registration of firms (those, according to according to the media, about two dozen) [27] , and is the source of the family's livelihood. By the way, it is with this addiction that scandalous story about the registration of the brand "Pussy Riot" [28] .

Concerning “The Goryachev Case”, then, judging by Feigin’s statements, in addition to defending the defendant, he interesting political background, in the first place - the relationship of the client and organization "Russian Image" with the Presidential Administration.

“- You are not embarrassed that Goryachev was associated with the Kremlin, and the “Russian Image” created by government?

- What do you mean "embarrassing"? Today, this connection does not exist. On the other side, he is now being persecuted, perhaps also because of those connections. If he gives such testimonies and the case file will indicate that the "Russian image" was associated with the structures of the presidential administration, that's one thing. And while we can just speculate" [29]

Of course, Fagin admits that it will not work to make "Pussy Riot-2" out of the "Russian Image" [30] . But the attention of journalists to the lawyer is ensured, his name is again at the hearing - and this very handy now. Elections to the Moscow City Duma are already in the fall, and Feigin has already announced his intention to run for the Moscow City Duma.

In fact, defense of an odious nationalist is a completely natural episode of Mark Feigin's activity. And although Feygin is traditionally considered to be among the liberal democratic opposition, nationalists for him - not strangers. Feygin is associated with some of them by partner relationship. In January 2012, Feigin participated from Solidarity in the creation of the Russian political committee", together with Konstantin Krylov, Nadezhda Shalimova, Vladimir Tor and a well-known veteran of the far right movements by Ilya Lazarenko. The committee, however, is in active political activity was not noticed, and recently more represents the interests of the Krylovskaya National Democratic Party, rather than associations of political forces [31] .

"Russian question" then and the case appears in Feigin's articles and other materials. He regrets lost great country [32] , warns the reader about the Caucasian threat [33] etc. “And really, who was in space: a Soviet military pilot and officer, or, above all, a Russian person? - writes Feigin in his blog on "Echo of Moscow".

Whatever it was, the fashionable trend of nationalism was always close to Feigin. I wonder what will be his platform in the upcoming elections?

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[1] They are not lawyers were: Ekaterina Samutsevich told Lente.ru about former lawyers Pussy Riot // Lenta Ru 2012. November 19 (http://lenta.ru/articles/2012/11/19/samutsevich).

[2] Berseneva Tatiana Former Pussy Riot defenders lost the lawsuit against lawyer Irina Khrunova and Kommersant // Pravo Ru. August 20, 2013 (http://pravo.ru/news/view/87780/).

[3] Feigin Mark. So I became traitor // Mark Feigin: [personal site]. (http://feygin.ru).

[4] Fagin Mark Zakharovich // Wikipedia (http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feigin_Mark_Zakharovich).

[5] For example, in the 70s years in the NTS was the chairman Moscow Department of the Union of the Russian People, the author of the "Letter 500" Mikhail Nazarov.

[6] Third Force: Edition People's Labor Union of Russian Solidarists. Samara: B/m, 1990-[1992].

[7] Biography // Mark Feygin (http://feygin.ru/?page=bio).

[8] Elena Lapshova. Samara region in April 1995 // Institute for Humanitarian and Political research. [1995] (http://www.igpi.ru/monitoring/1047645476/apr_95/samara.html).

[9] Report of the Executive Bureau at the II (V) Congress of the NTS. February 15, 1997 // People's Labor Union Russian solidarists (http://ntsrs.ru/content/doklad-ispolnitelnogo-byuro-na-ii-v-sezde-nts).

[10] See for example: Marchenko Daria. The Mayor of Samara hardly sits down // Novaya Gazeta. 2006. July 17 (http://2006.novayagazeta.ru/nomer/2006/53n/n53n-s21.shtml); Former mayor of Samara Limansky put on the wanted list // RIA Novosti. March 10, 2009 (http://ria.ru/society/20090310/164377060.html).

[11] Feigin Mark, P-doer // Forbidden Art. 18+. [2013] http://artprotest.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4049&2012-04-09-22-40-25&catid=3&zahitnikirus).

[12] Biography // Mark Feigin.

[13] Feigin, Mark Zakharovich // Wikipedia.

[14] Our lawyers: [List of members of the Bar Association "Moscow Legal Center"] // Collegium lawyers of Moscow Legal center". (http://www.moscowlegalcenter.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=7). Fagin usually counts the experience of his advocacy since December 5, 1996, referring to for the presence of a trainee certificate of the Moscow Guild of Lawyers (Feigin M. Before and after the 17th.Some clarifications //The Newest Cursed Days: Mark Feigin's Blog in LiveJournal. 2012. August 15 (http://mark-feygin.livejournal.com/95831.html).

[15] Ultra-rights activists. Feigin and Polozov will defend the nationalist Goryachev // Grani.ru. May 29, 2013 (http://grani.ru/Society/Xenophobia/m.215118.html).

[16] For more see: Feigin Mark, P-worker.

[17] “...I must say that Dzhemal says that in his case Feigin is just was “absolutely against any politicization and making it scandalous or resonant character. “He thought it would hurt my interests and wanted to all this is minimized and put on the brakes. He proceeded exclusively from my interests as a client,” says Dzhemal” (cited by: Azar Ilya, Lawyers PR: Mark Feigin // Lenta Ru. 2012. November 20 (http://lenta.ru/articles/2012/11/20/feigin/).

[18] To Razvozzhaev the sixth lawyers are not allowed in for a day // Facets. 2013. February 10 (http://grani.ru/Politics/Russia/Politzeki/m.211471.html).

[19] They were not lawyers... .

[20] Ultra-rights activists: Feigin and Polozov will defend the nationalist Goryachev // Facets of Ru. May 29, 2013 (http://grani.ru/Society/Xenophobia/m.215118.html).

[21] Oleg Ivanets: The evolution of the Samara informal democratic movement (1988-1993) - Part 5 // As-tashkinskaya street: Andrey Astashkin's blog in LiveJournal. 2012. September 4 (http://andry-astashkin.livejournal.com/460647.html).

[22] Mark Feigin: In Serbia really expecting help from us // Samara Review. 1999. March 29 (quoted from: http://textpoisk.ru/38/50).

[23] Mark Feigin: “I I always accept the challenge. // Rufabula. July 29, 2013 (http://rufabula.com/articles/2013/07/28/feygin-interview).

[24] Azar Ilya. Lawyers PR: Mark Feigin.

[25] Feigin Mark. Author's blog on the portal SNOB] / SNOB. 2012. (http://www.snob.ru/profile/25221/blog).

[26] Mark Feigin: “Given the Ukrainian events the prospect of Ablyazov's extradition is clouding” /RFI-Russian. February 26, 2014 (http://www.russian.rfi.fr/obshchestvo/20140226-mark-feigin).

[27] Fagin Mark, P-doer.

[28] Feigin and Samutsevich did not share the Pussy Riot brand //RBC daily. November 2, 2012 (http://rbcdaily.ru/society/562949985055262)

[29] Feigin: there is no task to make "Pussy Riot - 2" out of the "Russian image": [Interview V. Kichanova] // Elephant ru. 2013. May 29. http://slon.ru/russia/feygin_net_zadachi_delat_iz_russkogo_obraza_pussy_riot_2-947200.xhtml).

[30] Ibid.

[31] See: Russian Political Committee: [Community on LiveJournal] (http://rospolitkom.livejournal.com).

[32] “…with one word they pissed off the Russian girl (Gaidar, 54 // Most new accursed days: Mark Feigin's blog in LiveJournal. 2010. March 20 (http://mark-feygin.livejournal.com/16625.html).

[33] Feigin Mark. Terrorist attacks and civilizational identity // Ekho Moskvy. 2011. January 27 (http://www.echo.msk.ru/blog/mzf2009/745132-echo/).