Alexander Eyvazov
Alexander Eyvazov, born 1994, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 294 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Obstruction of justice through abuse of official position); Article 298.1 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Slander against a judge, juror, prosecutor, investigator, person conducting an inquiry, employee of…); “The case of Alexander Eyvazov”. Sentence (July 17, 2018): One year and ten months' restriction on freedom in a penal colony. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, October 15, 2017; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, October 11, 2017.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Former officials
Sentence
1 year 10 months
One year and ten months' restriction on freedom in a penal colony
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 294 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Obstruction of justice through abuse of official position
- Article 298.1 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Slander against a judge, juror, prosecutor, investigator, person conducting an inquiry, employee of the enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation
Full wording of the charges
obstructed justice by refusing to sign the minutes of the court session out of personal animosity towards the judge. On 15 January 2017, Eyvazov was accused of slandering Judge Irina Kerro
Latest event
July 17, 2018 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 1 year 10 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, October 15, 2017
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, October 11, 2017
- Recognised as a prisoner of conscience — Amnesty International, October 3, 2017
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year 10 months
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Recognised as a prisoner of conscience
Amnesty International
· Persecution begins
The case of Alexander Eyvazov
Criminal case
The case of Alexander Eyvazov
Details and sources
Full summary
Alexander Eyvazov worked as a secretary of a court in the Oktyabrsky District Court of St Petersburg under Judge Irina Kerro. He posted excerpts of audio recordings on YouTube, containing, what he claimed to be, dialogues with Carroe, indicating various irregularities on her part. He sent complaints on the facts of violations to the chairmen of district, city and Supreme courts, the Qualification Collegium of Judges, the FSB and the Investigative Committee, but this had no effect. On 29 December 2016, he was dismissed. Before that, he was on sick leave and did not have time to finish the minutes of the court hearing in the case of Timofey Kungurov. Nevertheless, on 30 November, Judge Kerro delivered a verdict in the case in the absence of a completed and signed transcript by the secretary. On 10 January 2017, Elvira Vaitekunas, deputy chairperson of the Oktyabrsky District Court of St. Petersburg, accompanied by police officers, came to Eyvazov's home and persuaded him to sign the minutes of the court session, the preparation of which had been completed by another person Eyvazov refused to do so, citing the fact that he could not sign the minutes, which had not been drawn up by him, moreover, retroactively. In addition, Eyvazov was no longer an employee of the court at that time. He posted an audio recording which recorded Vaitekunas' visit. On 11 January, the head of the FSSB for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region advised him to change his place of residence. On 15 February, a criminal case was opened against Eyvazov for obstruction of justice on the grounds of personal animosity towards Judge Kerro. On 13 March, Eyvazov was put on the federal wanted list. On 22 August, he was detained in Sochi by operatives of the Centre for Counteraction to Extremism of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region and taken to the State Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of St. Petersburg. On 24 August, at 4 a.m. he was arrested.
In June 2017, during the appeal consideration of Timofey Kungurov's case, both the prosecution and the defence asked to cancel the verdict due to the absence of Eyvazov's signature on the protocol, but the St. Petersburg City Court did not consider this argument significant, and the verdict was left unchanged. On 15 January 2017, Eyvazov was accused of slandering Judge Irina Kerro.
On 18 June, the Kalininsky District Court of St. Petersburg found Eyvazov guilty of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to a year and ten months in a penal colony. The charge of slander was dropped earlier. He was released on 21 July 2018.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 298.1 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.