Tyumen blogger will remain in pre-trial detention center

On July 7, the Tyumen Regional Court did not satisfy the appeal of blogger Alexey Kungurov against a preventive measure in the form of imprisonment in a pre-trial detention center. Kungurov, who is accused of public calls for terrorism (Part 1 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code) for his LiveJournal post “Who are Putin’s falcons really bombing,” will remain in custody until August 19. RIA Ura.ru reports this.

“The verdict of the Central District Court of Tyumen to select a preventive measure was ultimately upheld. Kungurov will sit until August in a separate block in a cell for two, under increased supervision, visits are prohibited to him, since he is charged with such a serious crime,” the publication quotes its source as saying.

It is also reported that the blogger’s relatives hired a new lawyer to replace the one appointed by the state. “The investigation is going very slowly, most likely it will be extended in August. It can be assumed that the investigation will drag on for about a year, and all this time the person, who has not yet been found guilty by the court, will sit behind bars, under a tight cap,” the source believes. According to him, the Memorial society became interested in the fate of Kungurov, whose employees requested documents on Kungurov’s case. “Now Alexey can be recognized as a political prisoner,” the agency’s interlocutor suggested.

Kungurov was taken into custody on June 15 at the request of the regional FSB department.