The Ukrainian Vladimir Balukh spoke at the Razdolnoie District Court with the last word today, January 15, 2018. He declared about political persecution and a complete falsification of the case against him.
“Absolutely everyone understands the fact that this is a political persecution for my beliefs. The court is already predetermined all decisions that will be made in this case. No one recognized the evidence of how the found objects appeared in my attic. My testimony about the fact that the security forces repeatedly threatened me to plant such items was not studied” – said Vladimir Balukh.
“The simplest proof that I have nothing to do with this is that the search was conducted at two addresses. However, in the house where I and my mother live, no attic has been examined, although there are four of them. And in the house of my civic spouse the search ended as soon as they found something in the attic. Further examination of the other rooms was not carried out. This is a prime example that they came for the objects they had previously planted.” – said Balukh.
According to Balukh’s words, when the case was reconsidered, not all the evidence was examined and not all the witnesses were interviewed, even comparing to the initial examination.
At the end of his speech, he addressed to the local security service, whom he suspects of falsifying the case:
“Are you trying to make me love the so-called “new homeland “? But this will never work for you, whatever you’re planning to do. Judicial decision will be made when people who have planted weapons and ammunition into the attic of my civil wife will be punished.
“The tears of the mothers of those guys who defend the law and the right of self-determination, the right to freedom, to a sense of dignity at the cost of their own lives, how much has already been paid, that’s all, guys, are products of your system. This system is misanthropic … Take any decision you want. I have unequivocally stated my position and will not refuse it. Guilty people will surely be punished. Victory will be ours. Glory to Ukraine”, – said Vladimir Balukh.
At the court session, the “prosecutor” Dmitrii Koroliov asked to sentence Vladimir Balukh to 5 years and 1 month of imprisonment in the colony-settlement, as well as a fine of 20 thousand rubles. In addition, the prosecutor requests to change the measure of restraint for the Ukrainian activist from house arrest to detention on remand.
The prosecutor ignored all the evidence of the defense and stated that the guilty of Vladimir Balukh has been proven, despite the fact that no evidence has been considered and there is no fact that indicates on acquiring ammunition. The judgment will be delivered tomorrow, January 16, at 2pm.
The lawyer in the debate drew attention to the fact that the majority of prosecution witnesses were not questioned in the court, the evidence obtained during the search cannot be considered as such, since they were obtained in violation of the law, including fake signatures of Palagin, the head of the FSB in Crimea. In addition, the defense drew attention to the fact that one of the prosecution witnesses is a mentally ill person, and one of the five volumes of the criminal case was not investigated. In the end, the defense urged the prosecution and the court to learn the legislation now, so that they do not have to do it in the place of Balukh. The defense stated that the judgment must be justifying.
We should remind, the “Razdolnoye District Court” is considering the case of Ukrainian activist Vladimir Balukh.
The FSB detained the activist on December 8, 2016. The FSB claimed that they have found 90 pieces of ammunition and several TNT checkers in the attic of the house where the activist lives.
The court sentenced Vladimir Balukh to three years and seven months of the open prison, as well as a fine of ten thousand rubles. During the consideration of the appeal, the judgment was overturned and the case was sent for retrial.
Flagrant violations of fundamental human rights and procedural norms of de facto Russian legislation in Crimea, as well as unreasonable decisions to extend the term of detention indicate that a criminal case against Ukrainian activist Vladimir Balukh is fabricated for political reasons.
