25 May 2016, 12:20
Ernst Chorny treats arguments of investigators in Varvara Karaulova's case as bluff
The criminal case against student Alexandra Ivanova (Varvara Karaulova), accused of an attempt to join the banned terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS), is fabricated, and the investigators' position is not supported by evidence. This opinion was voiced by human rights defender Ernst Chorny, who asked to release Varvara Karaulova under his guarantee.
On June 4, 2015, Varvara Karaulova was detained at the Turkish-Syrian border among a group of Russians, who, according to investigators, had intended to join the IS, banned in Russia and recognized as a terrorist organization.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 24, the Lefortovo Court of Moscow extended the Varvara Karaulova's arrest by two months. At the court hearing, the advocate made public a request of members of the Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG) to release Varvara Karaulova from SIZO (pre-trial prison).
When commenting on the request to release Varvara Karaulova on bail, Ernst Chorny, the secretary of the Public Committee to Protect Scientists and a member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, said that he entered the case at the request of one of the advocates.
He has emphasized that he entered the "Varvara Karaulova's case", since he thought that there were a lot of discrepancies in the version voiced by the investigators.
According to Ernst Chorny, his impression became even stronger after he attended the court hearing on May 24, when the Court extended the Varvara Karaulova's arrest.
"The Court has shown that the investigators have nothing against her. The investigator has failed to present any evidence to support his request for extension of the Varvara Karaulova's arrest," reported Ernst Chorny.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Semyon Charny Source: CK correspondent
