Defence criticizes extension of journalist Kevorkova’s arrest
Investigators convinced the court to extend the arrest of journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova, although there was no need for that, an advocate states.
At an investigator’s request, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow extended the arrest of Nadezhda Kevorkova until December 6. The investigator has justified his request by stating that the journalist has influential top-ranking friends and can create “artificial evidence of being not guilty” while at large.
Relatives and friends of the journalist, who turned 66, came to the courthouse to congratulate her on her birthday.
Since May 7, Nadezhda Kevorkova has been in custody on the charges of justifying terrorism.
Advocate Albina Pavlova has announced the defence’s intention to lodge an appeal against the court’s decision to extend the arrest of the journalist.
Nadezhda Kevorkova is accused of justifying terrorism because of two posts on her Telegram channel, including a repost of a text by journalist Orkhan Djemal from 2010 about the attack on Nalchik and an entry about the “Taliban” movement*. Nadezhda Kevorkova reprinted Orkhan Djemal’s text entirely and added only one phrase of her own stating: “Text from 2010 <year> by Orkhan Djemal on the death of Anzor Astemirov.” In the article, Orkhan Djemal talked about his acquaintance with Anzor Astemirov and about the authorities’ miscalculations that led to discontent among Muslims.
Only close relatives of Nadezhda Kevorkova could attend the court hearing, but the journalist’s friends are ready to come again to the courthouse to support her.
One of them is Akhmed, a long-time acquaintance of Nadezhda Kevorkova. “We met back in the 1990s. We were in the same circle with Orkahn Djemal. Before the Nadezhda’s arrest, our relationship was tense. However, despite everything, I will come to support her,” Akhmed emphasized.
*The “Taliban” movement is recognized as a terrorist organization, and its activities are banned in Russia.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 21, 2024 at 07:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Source: СK correspondent