by Nina Achmatova

Citing the "Holy Doctor" Haass, the renowned intellectual wrote to the President of the Court of appeal in Moscow to show mercy for the case of Akimenkov, in custody since June. Unlike Pussy Riot, it had not yet attracted the attention of VIP in Russia and abroad.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - a Russian opposition activists, in custody for rioting in the streets last May 6 during an anti-Putin demonstrations in Moscow, is gradually losing his sight, but the Basmanni Court in the capital decided to extend his detention until March 2013. Despite the concerns of human rights defenders, the case - concerning 18 protesters, 13 already in pre-trial detention-is likely to go unnoticed and there are still a few VIPs in Russia and abroad who have mobilized to ask for clemency. As was the case, however, for the three girls of Pussy Riot.

For the first time since September alarm has been expressed about the State of health of Vladimir Akimenkov, 25, of the militant left front (radical wing of the opposition movement).  On 2 November the famous writer Liudmila Ulitskaya became the first exponent of the intelligentsia to write a letter to the President of the Court of Moscow on his behalf.

Addressed to Judge Olga Egorova and published on the website of the newspaper New Times, the letter is an appeal to save the young man's life. In it the author recalls the figure of the "Holy doctor", the Catholic Joseph Haas, famous in Russia for being, in the 19th century, the first defender of people in jail. A physician, emphasizes the Ulitskaya, "who cared for all beyond their crime". In the words of the intellectual- in the front line of protests against Putin last year - "in Soviet times this tradition of mercy towards prisoners has since been lost ". Now, the case of Akimenkov, demands that this sense of mercy, still alive in the hearts of men, be recovered ".

According to medical examinations conducted in the prison hospital, the young man has only 10% of sight left. The law, however-as Ulitskaya emphasizes - only allows the release for those with 100% blindness. For this reason, the writer asks the Court of Moscow to accept the appeal of young man's lawyers against the decision of the Court Basmanni and grant him bail pending trial, since the conditions of isolation are jeopardizing his health.

Akimenkov has been held since June 10 on charges of having taken part in "mass disorders" in the demonstration organized by the opposition in Balotnaya square, on the eve of the inauguration of Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. If convicted, he risks up to 10 years in prison.

Recently some newspapers such as Kommersant, warned that the "Balotnaya case" is set to become "biggest political trial in recent years in Russia", after that against former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. According to rumors, investigators intend to also indict Sergey Udaltsov, leader of the left front, and among the most prominent representatives of the extra-parliamentary opposition for organizing those riots.

 

 

• RUSSIA
• PRISON
• ACTIVIST
• Vladimir
• Akimenkov
• putin
• protest
• trial