Detention Centre No. 1, Petrozavodsk

5 December 20215 December 2021 / editors (JC)

photo Darya Poryadinova, SOTA TV

This is where Yury DMITRIEV has been held, apart from outings to the courthouse, since June 2018.

During his first trial the measure of restraint was eased during the last six months from custody at Detention Centre 1 to an agreement not to leave Petrozavodsk. If he is convicted next week and the prosecution gets its way it will be a long while before DMITRIEV is a free man again.

His grown daughter Katya has stood by her father through all the ordeals of the past five years. She wrote publicly that she felt like screaming and expressed the gloomy prospects in the following formula: (15 – 4.5) + 65 = ?? [the sentence minus time served, plus Dmitriev’s current age, and the uncertainty about his survival in the camps].

In September 2020, the Karelian High Court increased his sentence from 3.5 to 13.5 years. The prosecution in this third trial have just demanded a sentence of 15 years in a strict-regime penal colony.

Trial to end on 14 or 15 December

4 December 20214 December 2021 / editors (JC)

When hearings resume on 13 December the defence (represented by Victor Anufriev and Roman Masalyov) will make its closing statement. Yury Dmitriev will then address the court and also pronounce his Last Words at this trial. Word from Moscow is that the trial may finish as early as Tuesday 14 December.

Dmitriev as a free man (March 2018)

Veteran photo-reporter Victoria Ivleva who took this picture is herself currently detained.

Prosecution demands 15 years

3 December 20214 December 2021 / editors (JC)

In its closing statement the prosecution at Yury DMITRIEV’s third trial on the same charges in the past five years has demanded that his term of imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony be increased.

“Free Yury Dmitriev!”

This familiar poster now carries another demand: “Hands off Memorial!”

It wants him to serve a total of 15 years as opposed to the 13 years and six months imposed last September by Karelia’s High Court.

Petrozavodsk trial to end shortly

2 December 20214 December 2021 / editors (JC)

Today the prosecution began to give its closing statement. Then it will be the turn of DMITRIEV and his attorney Victor Anufriev.

Dmitriev and his guards at the courthouse

Attorney was a no-show

2 December 20214 December 2021 / editors (JC)

Yesterday evening Sasha Kononova reported on the Dmitriev Supporters Facebook Page (7,800 followers) that the court-appointed attorney did not turn up yesterday to take on the defence of Yury DMITRIEV at the Petrozavodsk City Court.

The city Bar Assocation, apparently, ruled his participation improper. Today it is expected that Victor Anufriev, Dmitriev’s attorney since 2016, will be well enough to appear in court on his client’s behalf, after making the long journey from Moscow.