Judge Lukovtsev declined to examine the evidence in the case involving Zabolotna
In the city of Yakutsk, a significant legal case is unfolding, involving Elena Zabotnova, a public figure and journalist's wife. The case stems from a single-person picket held in connection with the arrival of Vladimir Putin, which has led to charges under Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
**Key recent developments:**
- **Case Status:** The authorities have pursued administrative proceedings against Zabotnova, alleging that her picket did not comply with legal requirements and that she resisted law enforcement instructions.
- **Legal Context:** Single-person pickets in Russia are generally allowed without prior permission; however, police sometimes challenge these actions on grounds of public order or procedural formalities.
- **Response:** Zabotnova and her husband, Mikhail Zabotny, have maintained that their actions were peaceful and lawful, emphasizing the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
- **Public and Legal Support:** Human rights groups monitoring the case have criticized the charges as suppressing lawful protest and have called for dismissal of the case.
Judge Anatoly Lukovtsev of Yakutsk City Court has been handling the case against Zabotnova. However, he has recently refused to consider the administrative case against her due to her current hospitalisation. The case materials have been returned, and it will be handed over to another on-duty judge at Yakutsk City Court after Zabotnova's discharge from the hospital.
Lawyer Anton Lebedev, who represents Zabotnova, plans to familiarise himself with the video materials to confirm or refute the fact of violation by Zabotnova. He also sees several violations by the police officers in the case against his client. Notably, there are no data proving the fact of the offense under Article 19.3 in the case against Zabotnova, and the protocol drawn up against her has no signatures of officials in the case materials.
The picket was in connection with the arbitrariness in the court cases involving the company "Alrosa". The police must prove the fact of violation by Zabotnova in the case. As of the latest available information, police officers are on duty near RNB-2, intending to deliver Zabotnova to Yakutsk City Court after her discharge.
For the most current updates on this developing story, it is advisable to check news sources from Yakutsk or Russian human rights organisations, as these administrative cases often develop with hearings or appeals over time. If you wish, I can look up real-time updates from news or legal monitoring platforms—would you like me to do that?
The judge handling Elena Zabotnova's case, Judge Anatoly Lukovtsev, has recently refused to consider the administrative case against her due to her hospitalization. The case materials have been returned, and another on-duty judge at Yakutsk City Court will handle the case after Zabotnova's discharge. Lawyer Anton Lebedev, representing Zabotnova, plans to investigate the video materials to challenge the alleged violation by Zabotnova and seeks to identify potential violations by the police officers involved in the case.
