As it turned out in Lazarevskoe court during the hearing of the case on “mopping up” organized by Sochi SPF officers in children’s camp “Druzhba”, ten days before Krasnodar regional court decided to let 3 out of seven detained officers out of the pre-trial detention centre. However, the policemen were set free only this morning, two hours before the hearing. Thus, three police officers were illegally kept in a cell for a week. This was reported by Nikolay Shakhovalov who represents victims’ interests basing on an agreement with the “Public Verdict” Foundation and the Committee against Torture. The measure of restraint was not selected for the policemen who were set free by Krasnodar regional court, so three defendants can theoretically leave the country any moment.
Next hearing of the case by Lazarevskoe court will take place on October 23.
According to the information gathered by human rights defenders who conducted a public investigation of Lazarevskoe events, during the night of July 2006 a group of Special Police Forces officers burst into café Oasis situated in children’s camp “Druzhba”. The police offended and beat up young people in the café. There are 29 victims including five minors.
On the 20th of July 2006 in Lazarevskoe district of Sochi the Prosecutor’s office started a criminal case on battery of people. All the policemen are charged in accordance with article 286 of the RF Criminal Code (abuse of powers).
Press-service of the Committee against Torture