Irina Levontina, expert linguist at the Dmitriev trial, talks to Zoya Svetova for MBK Media about her work on the case and the pressures now faced by court experts.
Irina Levontina
Natasha “held firm: she did not utter a single unnecessary word”
defence expert*
Defence experts cross-examined
On 23 July, in a closed session at the city court in Petrozavodsk, two psychologists were questioned as expert witnesses for the defence in the second Dmitriev trial. Victor Anufriev, the defence attorney, said that their responses were very important for the case.
It was the third time the experts have made the journey north from Moscow and the first time they were called to testify.
Continue readingEndocrynologist tells court about Natasha’s health
On 30 August an endocrynologist told Judge Marina Nosova that Dmitriev’s adopted daughter is in need of medical treatment and special care from her father. His photographic record of her changing condition was, therefore, justified. A petition from defence attorney Victor Anufriev for a change in the measure of restraint imposed on his client was denied because, in the opinion of the court, Yury Dmitriev posed a flight risk and might put pressure on the witnesses. The court also refused a request from Dmitriev himself to say who the author of the anonymous denunciation was. (Summary)
Full text in Russian, read on …
Using photographs to monitor a child’s health
Paediatricians from Moscow, Grigory Shayanov and Fyodor Katasanov gave testimony in court on 1 September 2017. There was nothing unusual in what Yury Dmitriev had done, they told the court, the photographing of children to monitor their development over time was widely practised: in early 2018 a law would come into force about such long-distance// remote medical diagnosis (it was signed by President Putrin on 30 July 2017). At the hearing on 22 June 2017 Professor Lev Shcheglov said that there were no pornographic photos in the Dmitriev case. [Sumary]
Russian text in full …
“An almost comical document” [R]
В Петрозаводском горсуде 22 июня продолжился судебный процесс над известным историком, общественником Юрием Дмитриевым, которого обвиняют в изготовлении порнографии с изображением его приемной дочери. В суде выступили свидетели со стороны защиты, а также приглашенный эксперт-сексолог Лев Щеглов.
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The Dmitriev Affair 