"Primaras against hostages"

In Moscow, the trial of the Rufers began, who are accused of hooliganism, and suspected - in sympathies to Ukraine

On August 17, the process began in the Tagansky Court of Moscow in the so -called "Rueri case" . Five young people - Beisjampers are accused of that almost a year ago, August 20, 2014, they painted a star on a spire of a high -rise building on the Kotelnikiye embankment of Moscow with yellow and blue paint and hoisted the Ukrainian flag there. Immediately after the sensational campaign, Kiev Rufer Grigory Mustang Wanted stated that he was repainting the star and hung the flag of Ukraine in the center of Moscow. He published photos on social networks. However, employees of the Investigative Committee of Russia detained Beisjampers, who jumped from a skyscraper during the action, and opened a criminal case under the articles “Hooliganism” and “Vandalism”. They face 3 to 7 years in prison.

For almost a year, four Beisjampers-34-year-old Alexander Pogrebov, 27-year-olds Alexei Shirozhukhov and Evgenia Korotkova and 26-year-old Anna Lepeshkina- were carried out under house arrest, which was sentenced to Moscow by the Tagan court of Moscow last year. The fifth person involved in the case-23-year-old Rufer Vladimir Podrezov spent almost the same time in the investigative isolator: the court sent him into custody on August 28 last year.

Vladimir Podrezov

At first, the investigation believed that this first four repainted the star and hoisted the flag on the spire of the high -rise. Then, Rufer Pavel, known as Rufer Grigory Mustang Wanted, who took responsibility for the action on himself, appeared on the Web. And the version of the investigation has changed - now investigators believe that Vladimir Podrezov and Gregory Mustang were repainted by the star. They also hung the flag of Ukraine on the building. The four Ruferov, knowing that Mustang repains the star, jumped from a skyscraper in order to "draw attention to the painted star."

Belons, Shirokhokhov, Korotkov and Lepeshkin do not deny that on the night of August 20 they were on the roof of the skyscraper, but they say that they did not paint anything and did not hook. Accusations against them are built only on the testimonies of another Beisjamper Kirill Ishutin, who was found during the detention. Ishutin says that the guys and girls knew about the Mustang action and took part in it.

The lawyer of Alexander Pogrebova Olga Lukmanova told Radio Liberty about preparing for the trial:

Lawyer Olga Lukmanova

- We will declare the call of witnesses. The judge said that he would try to ensure the turnout of all witnesses, but does not give guarantees, since now is summer, and many are absent, on vacation.

- And who would you like to call the court as witnesses?

- There are a lot of them, about 30 people. Witnesses will cause them to testify, but they may be absent in Moscow, as they are on vacation. We will also insist on inviting the main witness - Ishutin, who is sitting for drugs.

- How did this matter investigate?

- A mass of evidence is collected in violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Also, the accusation itself is not specified, that is, it is not clear what the guys are accused of. Jumping? Jumped. Thus attracted attention to the star. And what exactly, what mass mess they caused, what they violated - this is not indicated. Only political theses sound.

- How adequate it seems to you for the guys a measure of restraint - house arrest? And what is threatened by the articles "Hooliganism" and "Vandalism"?

Our people steal millions - and sit under house arrest

- According to the article "Hooliganism" they face up to 7 years, and for vandalism - up to 3 years. And the preventive measure, I think, is harsh. Our people steal millions - and sit under house arrest ...

- And what did they lose this year, being under house arrest?

- The first six months did not work while the investigation was going on. Already closer to the end of the investigation, we were allowed to work. Now two are working - broadcasts and cellars.

- Why don't they communicate with the press?

- Based on the court’s decision, they are forbidden to communicate with outsiders except relatives.

- We have a car mechanic. Shirokoikhov is an architect. Anna Lepeshkina worked as a curtain manager. And I can’t say about Evgenia Korotkova, I also worked in a company. All efficient, did not walk, did not stagger, responsibly approached life. They worked, played sports, do not drink, do not smoke. They are planting these, ”says lawyer Olga Lukmanova.

Public activist Pavel Silkov He claims that the accused Ruferns really are not related to the star and the flag, but now they are simply hostages of Russian investigators who would very much like to get Rufer Mustang:

- I personally do not know them. I went there immediately after the detention, since the common information on the media allowed me to assume that these people committed such an act - they painted the star, that in my eyes it was such a protest action. I thought that these people were subjected to political repression for political beliefs that coincide with mine because I have been supporting Ukraine from the first day. But it turned out that these people have no political views, but simply jumped from this high -rise. I think this is just a political reprisal. It turned out that Mustang painted the star, and the guys were in the wrong place and not at that time, just fell under the distribution.

This is the reprisal against hostages, which the regime punishes indicative

- How did you understand this?

- I talked with the mother of one of the guys, with the girl of the other, and my conversation showed that this situation is completely unexpected for them, and the guys could never think of anything against Putin and regime, have no opinion on the war with Ukraine and so on. It was evident that this is not our contingent, not those who go to Bolotnaya, and so on. They are such fanatics of sports, and they spent all their money on the fact that they climbed into these buildings and jumped from them, they had such a hobby.

“But their business is still political?”

- This is a completely political matter, but this is the reprisal not against the activists who supported Ukraine, but this is the reprisal against the hostages, whom the regime punishes indicatively, quite clearly realizing that they have nothing to do with it. There is a person who confessed. Although for me to paint some element of the interior is not a crime. Well, they painted and painted - replace it in a different color, and from this they inflated a world -class problem, the head of the Investigative Committee personally conducts the case. And at the same time, they defiantly stated that if Mustang did not come and give up, they would punish the people who were detained.

Rufer Mustang on Kotelnichesky

- On which side does this characterize the law enforcement system and the state as a whole?

- They behave as representatives of the terrorist state, which considers itself the right to punish citizens for crimes that they did not commit. So we captured random people, and if Mr. Mustang arrives and surrenders to the Investigative Committee so that we are crucified here, we will release the hostages then.

- And Mustang will come, what do you think?

- And from what fright he should come? If it were his associates, he would probably have thought. But these are completely apolitical people, they do not give a damn about what is happening in Russia, do not give a damn about the war with Ukraine. So they paid now for the fact that they have no political position, they are now in such a situation, ”said Pavel Silkov, public activist.

Earlier, the Ukrainian authorities stated that they were not going to give Moscow to the Ukrainian Rufer Pavel Pavel, known as Gregory Mustang Wanted. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation put him on the international wanted list. Advisor to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko told the media that Mustang "was going to change his last name and name, so that they would become a throat in Russia and, conversely, inspire Ukrainians for new achievements," and promised to help the to the priest in this matter. Gerashchenko added that he knew the "new" name and surname of Mustang, but he is not going to voice them yet.