The case of paint star: paratroopers freed Rufer given time – BBC Russian

Image caption Thrill-paratroopers admitted that they did not believe that the charges can be removed completely

A court in Moscow has dropped all charges against the four parachutists -ekstremalov held in the case of painting the colors of the Ukrainian flag on the tower-star high-rise. Another defendant – Rufer, accused of aiding painted Ukrainian star, sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

The prosecution requested a prison sentence for three of the four paratroopers leaped from the high-rise on the same morning. In recent jurisprudence Russian judge’s refusal to punish those accused least conditionally extremely unusual. The judgment was met with brief applause.

The five young men were accused of that they are complicit in shares Ukrainian Rufer Mustang, which is August 20 last year, made his way to the top of high-rise on Kotelnicheskaya embankment in Moscow, and painted the upper part in the Blue colour. This action prosecutors explained “motivated by political hatred” and the desire “to destabilize the social situation”.

Thrill-beysdzhampery denied any involvement in the venture with painted stars, arguing that their appearance on the tower – pure coincidence. Outside the courtroom, one of the freed Alexander cellar, said that that morning his company was going to jump to another object, but there the weather turned bad and then beysdzhampery decided to go to the “Seven Sisters” Tinkers.

Image caption Rufer Podrezov admitted that stipulated four jumpers. He received more than two years in prison

It seems that the key to this outcome of the case were the judicial testimony of testimony Petersburg Rufer Vladimir Podrezova, who said that the stipulated four parachutists under the pressure of the investigation . However, in other similar cases, even such recognition of the defendants were not an obstacle to conviction.

When did the announcement of the decision on the “case of the star,” thought it would be a record for overcrowding journalists in the courtroom and the impossibility to understand what the judge pronounced Marina Orlova. TV coverage is not organized, and even those who are standing next to the cage where the defendants Podrezov, it was not clear what the judge says.

confidence that it knew the defendant himself, and was not. The author shares the Mustang was named in the decision of “unknown person” and Podrezov, which helped him get to the top of the tower, was named an accomplice with vandalism. Podrezov listened to the verdict quietly, and sometimes even smiled.

And so at the end of a half hour of reading, the transition to half-whisper, Orlov took off four beysdzhamperov standing in the hall (they spent more than a year under house arrest) accused of hooliganism and vandalism. When the judge finished speaking, justified cheered.

Before the reporters found them in about twenty minutes – received copies of verdicts and get rid of tracking bracelets, which supplies all the “home of prisoners” FSIN. “Until recently, they did not believe, – said about his expectations of the full release of one of the defendants paratroopers Alexander cellar. – It is an honest verdict. All innocent were released”.

The pregnant Anna Lepeshkina for which the prosecution has requested a conditional term, said that after the birth of a child will continue to engage in this sport.

Image caption According to Alexei Shirokozhuhova, the pursuit of investigators “to create a business” became apparent immediately after his arrest

“From the judge depended” – so said another defendant, Alexei Shirokozhuhov, the question the BBC BBC about how to explain this, it is very unusual for Russia outcome of the trial. He also said that the investigation of all the forces trying to create a plot of the alleged criminal plan. “In the first three hours after the arrest, we realized that we will plant. Because no one put us apart”.

“The investigation unfair – said just released in the courtroom Evgeny Korotkov. The investigators injected, sought necessary evidence. ” Pressure was physical – she told the investigator that she threw a stapler.

Lawyers liberated expect that in the 10 days allotted by law the prosecutor’s office is appealing the verdict. While they do not say anything about the desire to seek compensation for the long-term house arrest innocent people.

The joy of a liberated parents could not pay off the quartet even asked by one of the central Russian channels. He wondered whether they spend with their children “educational work, so that they did not communicate with bad company.” All beysdzhampery say they will continue to jump, but objects to their sport will choose more carefully. Legal troubles united them. “Now we are real friends will be”, – summarized Anna Lepeshkina.