The trial of journalist Olga Komleva, accused of 'participating in an extremist community' and spreading military 'fakes', has begun in the Kirovsky District Court of Ufa.
'Hello everyone! All is well! Love you all!' said RusNews journalist Olga Komleva before the court session, which was made closed by default.
Despite this, a large support group gathered in the court corridor. 'Olga is indeed a very open and brave person, so I believe the process should be open,' RuNews quotes a resident of Ufa who came to support Komleva.
In a closed session, the court extended the journalist's preventive measure for six months. The next substantive hearing will take place on December 2.
'The indictment was read... Well, and postponed to December... The preventive measure was extended... We insist on her innocence, as stated in court. We will insist on the complete innocence of Olga Komleva,' said Komleva's lawyer Mikhail Lavrentyev after the session. He also mentioned that he saw his client on Friday, she thanks everyone for their support and tries to respond to all the letters she receives.
'Prospects? If it's an honest court, then an acquittal [verdict], if not, then no,' the lawyer replied to a listener's question about the court's prospects.
The case of Ufa journalist Olga Komleva on spreading 'fakes' and participating in FBK was submitted to the court in August.
On March 27, law enforcement officers came to Komleva's home demanding she appear for questioning in some criminal case, but they did not serve her a summons. The journalist assumed that the law enforcement's interest was related to her coverage of the 'Baymak case', initiated against participants of the February protests against the sentence of Bashkir activist Fail Alsynov*. However, on the same day, law enforcement officers came to her again, this time with an order to bring her in for questioning in the FBK case as a witness. At the Investigative Committee, the journalist was charged in the case of an 'extremist community', detained for 48 hours, and the next day sent into custody.
In July, a new charge was added against Komleva — spreading military 'fakes'.
Closed trials are also being held in the FBK case against Alexei Navalny's* lawyers in Vladimir and journalists in Moscow.
* Listed as 'terrorists and extremists'.
** Recognized as an 'extremist' organization in Russia.
Photo: Sotavision