Ex-member of the PMC Merkacheva was summoned to the trial of Furgal
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The trial of the ex-governor of the Khabarovsk Territory Sergei Furgal is nearing completion. The court is interrogating the last witnesses, among whom was the ex-member of the Public Monitoring Commission of Moscow, the author of these lines. Sergei Furgal himself asked for an interrogation. But at the last moment, the presiding judge refused on the grounds that the journalist was not present at the scene of the murders.
Meanwhile, those who came to support Furgal brought him to court … warm socks. “In such frosty weather, he really needs them!”.
“Sergey Furgal asks you to appear in court as a witness for the defense in his case,” the ex-governor’s lawyer told me. And he added: – The judge allowed it, and we said that we would ensure your appearance.
But how can I help the court? I myself only partially know the materials of this case, and that is thanks to the lawyers. Furgala did not know before he was placed in a pre-trial detention center.
It turned out that it was about my visits as a member of the PMC to Nikolai Mistryukov. In the past, Furgal’s boss and partner (in the distant years, when he was a businessman), it was he who gave the main evidence against the former governor. Mistryukov made a deal with the investigation, now he is in the case as a witness. So Furgal and other defendants in the case are sure that Mistryukov slandered him under pressure from the investigation. You can remember how Mistryukov was hidden in a pre-trial detention center (he was refused to be taken to the PMC members, allegedly because he himself did not want to communicate with human rights activists), how his wife asked for help (she said that he wrote strange letters, refused lawyers, etc. ). I remember that when Mistryukov was nevertheless brought to us, he said that he had a fatal diagnosis, they refused to treat him, they were carrying out traumatic medical manipulations without anesthesia. From his story it appeared that he was doomed. And all this in the context that there is at least a chance to die at home, only if the prisoner gives the necessary testimony.
This is probably what Furgal wanted to ask about.
“The interrogation of such a witness is extremely important for the resolution of our criminal case,” the ex-governor said at the trial. – They are obliged to interrogate her, otherwise there will be no objective trial.
Other defendants also instructed on my interrogation.
“We object,” said a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. – This person is by definition not a witness and cannot be one. She communicated with the accused as a member of the PMC. She did not collect information on the criminal case. What can she say? The prosecution deliberately subpoenaed her to elicit sympathy by appealing to a sympathetic online audience.
The judge supported the prosecutor’s office and clarified – was the PMC member an eyewitness to the crimes?
“Mistryukov was not an eyewitness either,” the lawyer retorted. – Witnesses were interrogated here, who were not even familiar with Furgal until 2014. Those who heard about the events of almost twenty years ago from third and even fourth parties are also interrogated.
As a result, the judge still refused to interrogate. But going to court itself helped to feel the atmosphere. So, I’ll try to describe.
There is a very small support group in the corridor – only 4 people.
– At first, a lot of people went to the process, but then less and less, – says a middle-aged woman. “There are countless meetings, but people have their own business. In addition, the process is often postponed for various reasons. Yes, and each visitor before being allowed in is checked for all bases. We once had a big delay precisely due to the fact that we did not have time to check everyone. Not only are there few of us left, the number of “curators” from the special services has thinned. After all, they were present at the trial from the very beginning. And if earlier one of the heads of different departments came (we not only already knew them by sight, but even got to know each other), now they go from the “who will be sent” series. Previously, everyone was so fit, tall, just like super agents from films, and now they even send women. Lost interest in the process. Or maybe you’re already tired.
– Aren’t you tired? – check with the visitor.
“For us, it can be said personally.
One woman says that she was Furgal’s assistant for many years when he was a deputy. He tells what they went through with him, how he burned with his work. When he was arrested, she could not believe that he could be guilty. But suddenly wrong? And so I decided to study his entire case from cover to cover.
“And I will walk as long as they let me in,” says the owner of the now-famous “van” Rostislav Smolensky. – First, out of personal sympathy. Two weeks before Furgal’s arrest, I wrote to him on Instagram (extremist social network banned in the Russian Federation – author’s note) with a request for help, and I was given an appointment. Here’s the story for you. My friend saved the child (he was thrown out into the street immediately after birth), cured for his own savings, although the doctors said that he was not a tenant, because there were many pathologies. And then guardianship wanted to take the baby away from her and place her in an orphanage. I wrote to Furgal, he scheduled a meeting, and as a result, the child was left, and the guardian employee quit. And there are many such stories. I converted my van – a cafe on wheels – into a van. For my support of Furgala, I spent 40 days in special detention centers. So it’s a matter of honor for me to attend meetings. Recently got lost high in the mountains in Karachay-Cherkessia. In one village I found a shop, parked near it and fell asleep. In the morning there is a knock on the window. A man is standing: “Let’s go, my wife has made coffee. Tell us how Furgal is doing.”
Rostislav told how he was removed from the meeting after one incident:
– On that day, a witness was interrogated, who stated that he was handing over weapons for murder. But he got confused. And then they announced a break. The witness went out into the street with the secret service officer, and I followed them. And I filmed how they talked, how the employee gave him instructions. The bailiffs noticed that I was filming. I was removed.
Newspaper headline:
The judge refused to interrogate
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