НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН, РАСПРОСТРАНЕН И (ИЛИ) НАПРАВЛЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ «КОМАНДА ПРОТИВ ПЫТОК» ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА «КОМАНДА ПРОТИВ ПЫТОК» | 18+

It concerns the police officer from Komsomolsk-on-Amur named Sergey Baturin, who was accused under the article of excess of authority (Part 3 of Article 286 of the Russian Criminal Code).

In June 2024, policeman Sergey Baturin was on duty at the police station when 50-year-old geologist, Andrey Boldenko, was brought there. According to the investigators, the officer pushed and beat Andrey, and also stepped on his head. This deed was recorded on a police CCTV camera. Mr. Boldenko was lying in handcuffs and could not get up or resist.

In October, the criminal case against Mr. Baturin was forwarded to the court, and already in early November, it became known that the accused man signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense and went to the special military operation zone. The criminal case against him was suspended.

One should recall that in September, the Russian Duma adopted a bill on exemption from criminal liability during the investigation and trial stage in exchange for participation in the military operation.

Commentary of the head of the Crew Against Torture, Sergey Babinets:

«The criminal justice system, based on punishments that should be a sort of constraint, has been destroyed. Nowadays, defendants can escape criminal liability by participating in military actions. This approach, which provides “criminal immunity” through military service, can lead to serious social consequences. At any stage of criminal proceedings, when a hypothetical murderer gets tired of playing trinkets with the investigator, he can get up and leave. These amendments nullify the victims’ right to a fair trial and protection from new crimes. This practice has no precedent in the world and is a unique development of our legislators. The amendments call into question the work of the entire justice system.»