Petersburg: Medinsky compared Sokolov’s associate professor with Joker

Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky compared the associate professor of St. Petersburg State University Oleg Sokolov, accused of the murder of a graduate student Anastasia Eshchenko, with the main character of the film "Joker" directed by Todd Phillips. So he answered the journalist’s question about the attitude to the Sokolov case at the International Cultural Forum in St. Petersburg.

“Previously, everyone asked me about the Joker, but now about Oleg Sokolov. I want to answer:“ If you like the Joker so much, why don't I like Oleg Sokolov? ” , The Fontanka quotes Medinsky’s words.

The minister also asked why the name of Oleg Sokolov disappeared from the website of the Russian Military Historical Society, to which Medinsky noted that he was "very sorry", that individual media and journalists "are engaged in godless hype on human tragedy."

Earlier, Medinsky said that he did not like the Joker, but since the content of the picture does not contradict the requirements of the law, there is no reason to ban its rental in Russia. He also added that if such a movie was shot in Russia, then he would not have a chance of obtaining state support.

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• The murder of a graduate student at the St. Petersburg State University of 24-year-old Anastasia Eshchenko occurred on November 7 in Sokolov’s apartment. He was detained in the morning of November 9, discovering in the Moika River along with a backpack, in which there were severed female hands and a pistol. During a search in Sokolov’s apartment, other fragments of the body of the murdered were found. He later confessed to the murder. On November 11, the court arrested Sokolov for two months.
• The head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, instructed the St. Petersburg Department of the Department to verify information about other possible crimes of Oleg Sokolov. Before that, he was accused of violence against another girl, sinking the ship and provoking a fight at a lecture. Lecturer in St. Petersburg State University was fired from the university.