The trial took less than an hour, and the three judges didn’t even have the case materials on the table…
Today, the First Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction considered Alexander Shestun’s appeal against the verdict. Let us remind you that on December 25, 2020, the Podolsk court of the Moscow region sentenced the politician to 15 years in a maximum security colony and a huge fine.
From the first minutes after the start of the hearing, no one had any hope of revising the sentence. The defenders noticed that there were not even case materials on the table of the panel of judges. Less than an hour later, the people in robes retired to the deliberation room, where they stayed for just a few minutes and came out with a decision: to leave the verdict unchanged.
Alexander Shestun, who watched the trial via video link, accepted the verdict dispassionately. After a pause, he said: “I have known for a long time that there would be such a decision.”
Lawyer Oleg Belov shares his impressions of the hasty process:
– From the way the judges reacted to our complaint, it was clear that they did not even read it, let alone study the case. The court decision was prepared and printed in advance. Sad impressions. It must be understood that the task of the judges of the Court of Cassation was difficult. If we accept our arguments, then the decision must be canceled and sent for a new consideration. To plunge the entire system into this adventure again. Apparently, we are not yet at the stage where people are able to make independent decisions. We must move on.
“ВЧК ОГПУ”