The 1st Western District Military Court has begun the first hearing on the merits of Aleksandr Skobov’s case. The 68-year-old human rights defender is participating in the process via video link from the pre-trial detention center in Syktyvkar.
Already during the identification procedure, Skobov replied, “I do not recognize your court! Death to Putin!”. Judge Aleksandr Khludnev interrupted the defendant and told bailiffs to cut off communications if he violated court rules.
Skobov said he refused to answer the court’s questions. “Whether you will answer or not, the court will ask you questions,” the judge replied and continued the session.
The defendant’s wife Olga Scheglova and his 91-year-old mother Natalya Lukinichna Skobova requested to attend the hearing as listeners. The judge refused the women, as they are witnesses in the case and the prosecution still intends to question them.
The prosecutor read out the indictment. It says that Skobov did not support the “SMO”, deliberately and publicly justified terrorist attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation, including the explosions in the Patriot bar and on the Crimean Bridge, and supported the actions of the Freedom of Russia Legion. Skobov, according to the text of the charge, has a negative attitude towards the Russian president and his policies, and in his actions was guided by motives of enmity and political hatred.
Skobov is also charged with participation in the activities of a “terrorist community” – the Free Russia Forum. The prosecutor stated that the defendant had made “public calls to terrorist activity” there.
In response to the prosecutor’s words, Skobov stated that he not only participated in the Free Russia Forum, but also co-authored its anti-war resolution, the paragraphs of which he read out to the court.
