The court extended the arrest of Zhuravel, accused of burning the Koran, for six months

The Visaitovsky District Court of Grozny decided to extend the detention of Nikita Zhuravel, who is accused of burning the Koran, for another six months. writes “RIA News”.

During the meeting, Zhuravel noted that he burned the Koran “out of ignorance” and apologized to Muslims. He also stressed that he had no motive for gross violation of public order.

On the evening of October 12, the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov posted in his Telegram channel a video with a fragment of a meeting with Zhuravel. Kadyrov called him a pronounced provocateur and saboteur, acting in the style of European intelligence services, whom “the West will want to present as a champion of democracy and freedom of speech.” According to the head of Chechnya, Zhuravel burned the Koran deliberately, “wanting to insult Muslims, set apart confessions in Russia, disrupt that long-standing peace and undo all the work that the Russian state and the public are doing for the sake of interreligious harmony.”

According to the investigation, Zhuravel burned the Koran near the Cathedral Mosque on Povorinskaya Street in Volgograd, filming his actions on video. Then Zhuravel published the video on the Internet. During interrogation, he admitted that he carried out the action at the direction of the Ukrainian intelligence services for a reward of 10,000 rubles. He also said that he photographed military facilities for the Ukrainian special services.

In May, a criminal case was opened against him under Part 2 of Art. 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (insulting the feelings of believers in religious places). According to RIA Novosti, Zhuravel is also accused of committing an offense under Part 2 of Art. 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (hooliganism committed based on religious hatred by a group of persons by prior conspiracy). On May 21, the case was decided by the Chairman of the RF Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin handed over for investigation in the Investigative Committee for Chechnya. The reason was a large number of appeals from residents of the republic asking to be recognized as victims. At the end of May Zhuravel delivered in the pre-trial detention center of Grozny.