The Court of Cassation upheld the sentences of the defendants in the “palace case” Bendas and Glushkov

In Moscow, the Second Court of Cassation upheld the verdict of the defendants in the “palace case” Olga Bendas and Alexander Glushkov. Their interests in court were represented by lawyers Tatyana Okushko and Alexander Nemov, collaborating with OVD-Info.

In June 2021, the defendants were sentenced to two years in a general regime colony - they were found guilty of using non-life-threatening violence against security forces (Part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code) at a rally on January 23, 2021 in support of Alexei Navalny. In November, the Moscow City Courtreduced Glushkov's prison term by one month, but left Bendas' sentence unchanged.

According to investigators, during the protests Glushkov hit a riot police officer twice in the back with his hand. And Bendas, according to the prosecution, during the rally allegedly struck several blows to the head and torso of a police officer on Pushkin Square, taking away the baton lying on the ground.

Glushkov admitted guilt, Bendas at first also agreed with the prosecution and to have the case examined in a special order, but at the stage of the trial she refused the special order and admitted guilt.

In the spring of 2022, Glushkov was transferred to IK-7 in Karelia, Bendas to IK-3 in the Ivanovo region. After arriving, the girl was immediately placed in a punishment cell.

• After the arrest of Alexei Navalny in January 2021, residents of many Russian cities took to the streets in his support. The security forces reacted harshly to the protests: on January 23, more than 4,000 people were detained, on January 31, more than 5,500 , and on February 2, more than 1,400 people .
• In connection with the protests, criminal cases were opened across the country against more than 180 people. The totality of these cases is called the “palace case,” since one of the catalysts for the protests was the FBK investigative film “ Palace for Putin. The story of the biggest bribe ." Most of the defendants are accused of using violence against government officials that is not dangerous to life and health (Part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code).