UPD: The prosecution requested 3.5 years in a penal colony for Alexey Gorinov in the case of justifying terrorism due to conversations with cellmates about Ukraine. The opposition figure has already been sentenced to 7 years. By summing up the terms, the prosecutor demands that after the new sentence comes into force, Gorinov serve another five years.
The day before, the prosecution announced the essence of the charges: allegedly last winter, while undergoing treatment in a prison hospital, Gorinov tried to instill a «terrorism ideology» in his ward neighbors, justifying the explosion of the Crimean bridge, as well as the actions of the «Azov» battalion* and the GUR special unit «Kraken».
At the last hearing, Gorinov's former ward neighbors testified against him — Pavel Britikov, convicted of robbery, and Nikolai Medvedev, serving a sentence for rape. Both received rewards from the colony administration afterward. At the same time, their testimonies during interrogations completely coincided.
As reported by the «Mediazona»** correspondent from the courtroom, before the hearing, Alexey Gorinov said that his anti-war posters, which he brought to yesterday's hearing, were confiscated. «Instead of a statement, I have these little protocols today», — Gorinov showed the seizure reports. He also demonstrated the dry ration he is given to take to court and stated that he intends to petition for the postponement of the hearing, as yesterday, contrary to the judge's promise, he arrived at lights out, did not have time to eat and rest.
The judge refused to postpone the hearing despite the request of Gorinov and his lawyer and proceeded to interrogate the next prosecution witness — four-time convicted Andrey Gonyashin.
46-year-old Gonyashin said that when the convicts were watching TV, the ex-deputy justified the explosion of the Crimean bridge, and called Russian people in Donbass, the president, and Russian troops fascists. «Like it's a war, we attacked them, and they are kind of defending themselves», — «Mediazona» quotes Gonyashin. At the same time, Gonyashin, convicted for drugs and last sentenced to 16 years, claimed that he «provided Gorinov with historical references», and the third convict in the ward «was also shocked» by what Gorinov said.
It turned out that the prosecution witness does not remember the details, but «definitely knows» that Gorinov «fully justified what Ukraine is doing against us».
Gorinov inquired whether Gonyashin knew Britikov, to which he replied negatively. Gorinov asked Gonyashin how he could then explain the identical testimonies with other witnesses, but the judge dismissed this question.
In court, Gorinov's psychological profile was read, stating that in conversations with other convicts, Gorinov was not the initiator of political discussions. Moreover, the psychologist describes him as an adequate and balanced person with good intellectual abilities, who «tries to avoid participating in conflict situations».
In July 2022, Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in a penal colony due to an anti-war speech at a meeting of municipal deputies of the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow. In the fall of 2023, another criminal case was initiated against him — under the article on «justifying terrorism» due to conversations with cellmates.
* Recognized in Russia as a «terrorist organization».
** Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent».
Photo: SOTAvision