AUTHOR

Andrey Kozlov

“The Outrage not Seen Before.” Lawyer Marina Gromova on the Case of Kantemir Karamzin for FederalCity.ru

 

! Press-conference of Kantemir Karamzin’s lawyers after the court sitting on 25 June. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

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On 25 June, a court sitting took place at Balashikhinsky city court where the detention of the lawyer Kantemir Karamzin was extended until 10 October. The defendant’s layers said that in all their years of professional activity they have never seen such outrage in relation to a suspect whose state of health is critical. The defendant was not taken to the court from remand centre, but to an unknown place, from which a video broadcasting was organised. He could not say a single word during the sitting as he kept falling down and losing consciousness. People wearing masks were standing next to him and were answering the judge’s questions instead of him. The sitting was held behind closed doors, though there were no grounds for it.

Kantemir Karamzin’s relatives and friends attended the case hearing at the court. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

Some specific particulars of holding this proceeding were noted well before the judicial proceeding commenced.

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CITY

Moscow

26.07.2019, News

News, MASS MEDIA 2

Neither journalists, nor the people who know Kantemir Karamzin and who came to support him were allowed to attend the proceeding. After some time only immediate relatives were let in. Before that, two representatives of FSS entered the courtroom without any encumbrances and stayed there anonymously as listeners.

Guards standing in front of the courtroom where the Kantemir Karamzin’s case is heard. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

Prior to the commencement of the sitting Kantemir Karamzin’s lawyer Marina Gromova made an attempt to find out the reason for selection of such a small courtroom and the court’s representatives’ replied that this room is equipped for video broadcast from remand centre. Video link was required because Kantemir Karamzin was not taken to the court, though this contravenes the law.

Waiting in front of closed courtroom door. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

“In the course of the sitting I had a feeling I attend funerals. The presiding judge Kobzareva Olesya Anatolyevna was holding the sitting so cynically”, – Marina Gromova will say later.

At the same time – the lawyer noticed – the judge had a small knowledge of the materials in the proceedings and this is confirmed by the fact that during proclaiming the ruling she could not pronounce the names appearing in the materials in the proceedings correctly.

In the course of the sitting the relatives and friends of Karamzin were exasperating with the prohibition to attend the sitting. At some moment, the police officers prohibited the lawyer’s assistant to bring supplemental documents on the case inрепликto the courtroom. This caused another tide of discontent among those present who chanted “Free Kantemir!” from time to time.

The guard refuses to take materials in the proceedings to protect Karamzin. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

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As Marina Gromova told later, during the sitting the screen with video broadcast from remand centre showed two people, one of which wore mask and the second one hardly resembled Karamzin they could not recognise.

Karamzin’s relatives pointed the judge’s attention to his state of health, he looked like a sick person, who did not realise what was going on. The judge reacted aggressively to this attempt and said she would remove them from the courtroom for replications.

When the judge turned to Karamzin over the video link, a man in the mask responded and said that Karamzin hears the judge. Karamzin’s lawyers realised that he did not react to all that was happening and turned with an appeal to urgently get the chief of health centre of remand centre No. 8 to Karamzin. The judge declined the petition and continued the hearing.

Guard in front of the courtroom. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

Similarly, the judge declined the lawyers’ petition to postpone the hearing due to the state of health of the suspect that simply fell down at some moment.

The lawyers mustered arguments that the absence of the suspect during the consideration of selection of pre-trial restriction is possible in two cases only – the suspect is in the Federal wanted list or in case of problems with health that prevent him from being taken to the court sitting. After that, investigator Andrey Nikolaev said that there is a statement confirming a quarantine enforcement due to some virus infection is announced at the remand centre No. 8. Earlier that day, another Karamzin’s lawyer failed to get to him in the remand centre. She was told Karamzin was taken away from the remand centre, but refused to tell her where he was taken to.

Kantemir Karamzin’s friends came to the court sitting with their families. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

Karamzin’s defenders solicited for a challenge of the judge after a number of his objections. While the judge in the retiring room was taking the decision on the petition on her own challenge (this is procedural rule) the lawyers and the relatives saw another person wearing mask came to Karamzin and started performing some medical procedures blocking the video camera so that his actions were not seen. Defence is of the opinion that another sedative injection was administered to make sure Karamzin does not return to consciousness.

After the break the judge declined the petition on her challenge and continued the sitting regardless the lawyers’ attempts to pay her attention on the suspect’s medical state.

During the sitting. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

After the prosecution speech the defence communicated to the court the objections against the extension of the period of detention. These included Kantemir Karamzin’s materials forming a 150 pager document including the complaints against the charges, to the fact of submission of the case from Moscow court to Moscow province, complaints in respect of violation of Article 90 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.

Kantemir Karamzin’s defence demonstrates the materials for objections against the extension of the period of detention. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

According to Gromova, the defence insisted that there are no grounds to extend the period of detention as no investigative activities are carried out. In particular, the investigator did not even hold questioning of the detainee. Of 10 investigative activities mentioned in the defence’s previous petition as necessary, only one expert review, that was supposed to be carried out at the FSS was appointed, but never carried out. Later this expert review was transferred to an Internal Ministry Structure in Moscow.

Kantermir Karamzin’s defence and relatives tell about the court sitting. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

The lawyer informed that a night before a sick person originating from the Central Asia was put in Karamzin’s ward, who did not let Karamzin a chance to sleep because of his state. Karamzin’s defence concedes that this event could have been a result of deliberate act aimed to cut up the suspect’s state.

Gromova confessed that during the sitting Karamzin’s defenders wished to leave it as none of the lawyers “saw such outrage” and “did not see such cynical hearing of the case” in all the years of their professional activity. Gromova said that the defence will appeal today’s judicial decision, involve mass media – the “fourth power” to the disclosure of the Karamzin’s case. She also advised that a complaint is lodged with the Human Rights Ombudsman.

Application to the Moscow Province Human Rights Ombudsman. Photo: IA FederalCIty.

Application to the Moscow Province Human Rights Ombudsman

Attn.: Semenova Yekaterina Yurievna

From: Defender of accused Karamzin Kantemir Feliksovich – Lawyer Kharitonova Kristina Nikolaevna

Postal code 141310; p.o. box 15

Complaint

Dear Yekaterina Yurievna, the situation forming with accused Karamzin Kantemir Feliksovich detained at remand centre No. 8 in Sergiev Posad of the Moscow Province requires your immediate attention.

1. K.F. Karamzin was not escorted to the judicial sitting took place at 14:00 at the Balashikha city court referring to the fact that a quarantine is enforced at the remand centre.

However, today I arrived to to the remand centre No. 8 to reserve a place in the cue to the investigation room to talk to my client before he is escorted to the court. The remand centre No. 8 advised me that they had no sufficient time to get Karamzin to the investigation room as they are going to escort him. I let the people behind me in the cue to go first, namely the Sergiev Posad city lawyer Abyzov Albert Museevich and investigator Safonov.

It is obvious that no quarantine was enforced at the remand centre No. 8!

As it happens, near the remand centre I met my clients on a civil case and we had a long talk, therefore I had an opportunity to see how long Abyzov and Safonov spent at the remand centre. Safonov left the facility at about 11:00 and the lawyer Abyzov – at about 12:00.

1. Lawyer Gromova Marina attended the judicial sitting on the extension of the period of Karamzin’s detention at the Balashikha court as a defender. Gromova called me at 15:34 and said Karamzin lost consciousness during the sitting. However, the presiding judge ignored the above fact and said “He is fine!” A challenge was declared to the judge. As far as I am aware the judicial proceeding is ongoing and the composition of the court is unchanged.

You are requested to initiate an inspection on the above circumstances and restore K.F. Karamzin’s infringed rights.

Please notify on the results in writing to the address 141310, p.o. Box 15 and email

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Lawyer K.N. Kharitonova

26 July 2019, 16:22

Let us remind that as IA (Information Agency) FederalCIty informed the lawyer Kantemir Karamzin was taken into custody by FSS people on 12 April. He was accused of fraudulent practices. Over 12 years ago the lawyer allegedly prepared a document with false signature according to which a writer Oleg Blotsky owed him USD200 thousand.

The arrest took place regardless the fact that according to effective judicial decisions Kantemir Karamzin won this case at 10 courts of various levels including at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. However, Balashikha city court took the lawyer into custody and placed him at the remand centre No. 8 at Sergiev Posad until 27 July.

Apart from unexpected and unexplainable (at the first look) resuscitation of the case considered a number of times, NG (Nezavisimaya Gazeta) informs, evident oddness of the period of pre-trial restriction, taking into custody and arrest were accompanied with numerous violations of the law as well as unmotivated severity in relation to Karamzin. In this respect, the man under arrest suffering from diabetes mellitus was not provided with medicine, meal, sleep and in addition two criminals were put into his ward. No medical treatment was provided to Karamzin suffering from diabetes mellitus. Mass media publishes Karamzin’s evidences that searches with full undressing are initiated a few times a day. Relatives’ visits are prohibited.

In his open letter to Vladimir Putin Karamzin explains current situation with the fact that he affected financial interests of FSS General Aleksey Dorofeev who is linked with the owners of Moscow developers FSK “Lider” (Vladimir Voronin) and DSK-1 (Vladimir Kopelev). Karamzin was protecting the interests of Canadian entrepreneur Mark Richards and won a number of arbitration proceedings against the owners of bulding companies amounting to 15 billion Roubles. According to Karamzin, cited by NG, main purpose of the provocation against him is to derail the arbitration case against Voronin and Kopelev.

It should be pointed out that according to Svobodnaya Pressa (SP) the plan envisaged transformations of DSK-1 that would allow for staying clear from the debts to Canadian investor recently acknowledged by the DSK-1 owner Kopelev. Lawyer Karamzin’s successful actions blew these plans up and threatened the interests of the father and son Voronins’ OAO FSK Lider merged with DSK-1, people in the business circles are of the opinion that the Voronins are supported by the representative of security agencies, SP informs.

Screen shot of Kantemir Karamzin’s resort to Vladimir Putin. Source: http://www.ng.ru.

Attn..: the President of the Russian Federation, V.V. Putin

from Karamzin Kantemir Feliksovich detained at the remand centre No. 8 of the Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service for the Moscow Province

Dear Mr Putin!

I am forced to ask the President of the Russian Federation for support as your “favourite” – as he describes it – FSS General Aleksey Dorofeev kills me with immediate participation of his personal minion Colonel Sergey Natarov.

Unfortunately, I am not fearless hero and am scared to openly pronounce the name of almighty security officers, but I have no choice – they are killing me.

I am an ordinary person, same as you, Mr Putin, I was born in the USSR on 7 October in an ordinary family of an officer and a teacher. I grew up in a military camp and then went in for the law. I did not work as a public officer. I did not steal public money. I have no real estate abroad, neither do I have passports of other countries. Family. Kids as many of us have.

I have been working in Russian courts representing the interests of my clients for almost 30 years.

I have been dying in prison since 12 April, where I was escorted from a hospital room with a large convoy consisting of FSS officers not below Major.

Such “great honour” to me is done because I dared to disturb financial interest of FSS General Aleksey Dorofeev.

Aleksey Dorofeev acts insolently and cynically against the order of two citizens of the Republic of Malta, billionaires Voronin and Kopelev (real name is Glukhman).

Voronin and Kopelev are the owners of large Moscow developers – FSK group of companies (previously FSK “Lider) and AO “DSK-1.”

Dorofeev uses Oleg Blotsky – the author of the first biography of the President of the Russian Federation Putin V.V. as an official cover for my arrest.

Mr Putin, trust me, I am quite good lawyer. I know, understand and love the Law and I was rendered speechless how disparagingly easy this profiteer destroyed my life and threw me into prison hiding under the shoulder marks of the FSS officer and acting in his own commercial interests.

Here he is slowly killing me every day with no legal grounds.

The fact of the matter is that I won numerous judicial disputes against the abovementioned Maltese billionaires defending the interests of my client – Canadian business man Mark Richards – who has been working in Russia since 1992.

In the end of February the FSS Colonel Natarov S.V. appointed a meeting at a restaurant and during the private talk passed me ultimatum that allegedly was originating from Dorofeev.

According to Natarov, his superiors demanded me to lose the case at the Moscow Arbitration Court, where I demanded to forbid Vornonin and Kopelev to split AO DSK-1 into five small firms and sell the enterprise in small parts.

During the same conversation Natarov “in a friendly manner” recommended to leave Russia, what I did.

I spent abroad about a month. I wrote and called to Natarov, but failed to get explanations about my fault in respect of Russian FSS.

On 9 April, naively believing in my legal knowledge and national justice I returned to Moscow. It turned out this was a silly act as I thought that the times when a person could have been imprisoned and put to death in a snap of a finger of an officer of NKVD (People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs) bite the dust.

On 10 April, I was taken into custody as per personal instruction of Dorofeev A.N., I was arrested at the entrance to the courtroom of the Moscow Arbitration Court where the case to prohibit Voronin and Kopelev to split DSK-1 into small parts should have been heard.

As an official occasion for my arrest Investigator Kadyrov brought the charge that in 2007, i.e. over 12 years ago I have allegedly forged the signature of Oleg Blotsky on a loan agreement.

Kadyrov represents that by forging the signature I have convinced the courts of all instances including the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to deliver a decision that Oleg Blotsky owes me large sum of money.

The scent of spice here is not only in the name of investigator.

Actually, Oleg Blotsky is a worldwide famous journalist, who wrote the first biography of the second President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin in 2001.

It would be amusing if it were not so sad.

The mountain has brought forth a mouse!

The above means that in order to organise my detention a department of FSS headed by General Dorofeev developed insignificant version with forging the signature based on which they wiped out their boots with my life.

General Dorofeev A.N., being absolutely serious on his occupational title, represents that 12 years ago, being reasonable and experienced lawyer, I have picked a world-famous journalist, personal biographer of the President of Russia as a victim.

According to the version developed under the supervision of Dorofeev A.N. I failed to find a richer and less famous person and forged Blotsky’s signature on the loan agreement; what is more unbelievable that “silly” courts of the Russian Federation turned to be helpless in front of such primitive counterfeit and decided in my favour by mistake.

This is what accusal reads.

Dorofeev considers it possible to correct the mistake with Kadyrov’s hands.

My client Mark Richards was forced to leave Russia. Having pushed all his matters he is waiting with fear for the results of the execution of his lawyer.

Dear President of the Russian Federation!

Dear Mr Putin!

I beg you for mercy!

Please stop Dorofeev A.N.!

He is not supposed to get involved into a commercial dispute – this is not an issue of the safety of Russia, this is his personal interest!

The issue of forging the signature on the loan agreement raised between two persons in 2007 is not the question of competence of the FSS of the Russian Federation!

Dear Mr Putin, I did not forge the signature of your first biographer in 2007.

Please release me from jail.

I feel very bad and just want to die among my kids and my family.

I learnt the lesson – one should not pursue the protégé of General Dorofeev A.N.

With the tears in my eyes I acknowledge and realise that whatever methods we – all the citizens of our country, including me and you, dear Mr Putin – employ to do “what is best”, unfortunately the tragedy of absolute power of 1917-1937 fanatics guilty in the death of millions of innocent people repeats as a farce as per the law of historic development as a mayhem of their successors turning into profiteers, primitive profiteers of justice.

Dear Mr Putin!

Please excuse me for repetitions.

I beg you for mercy!

Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

K. Karamzin, 16 May 2019

Remand Centre No. 8, ward 40, Sergiev-Posad, Moscow Province

For this reason, according to Karamzin’s statement and testimony FSS Colonel Sergey Natarov acting pursuant to Dorofeev’s instructions, demanded to “lose the case” at arbitration court and leave for abroad. Fearing prosecution, Karamzin left Russia in March, but returned back to Moscow in April to participate the determinative sitting of the court that was supposed to consider the illegitimacy of transfer of shares of DSK-1 to the Voronins (FSK “Lider”). The lawyer was taken into custody at the court entrance.

As Karamzin witnesses, “officers from authorities” visited him in the remand centre a number of times and during the off the record conversation offered him to admit the fault in the Blotsky’s case as well as to withdraw the arbitration cases on the DSK-1 case. Five years “de bene esse” were promised, Lenpravda informs.

And on 19 July, two persons introduced as FSS Major Ushakov and FSS Colonel Ivanov beaten him unmercifully during their visit. The lawyer adds that the security officers expressed offences, blackmail and threats of homicide. In the Crime Incident Report to acting Chief of remand centre No. 8 Kamardina E.N., to the Chief Military Criminal Investigation Division under the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and the Internal Security Inspectorate under the FSS of the Russian Federation (registered in the remand centre No. 8 register ref.: 0643 dated 20 July 2019) the lawyer informs among other things that a high ranking official Karamzin was offered to talk to, promised in an insulting manner that Kantemir would “perish in the jail”, he would be sentenced to 17 years and 6 more accusations would be added if he does not withdraw the complaints against DSK-1, Lenpravda informs.

“Free Kantemir Karamzin!” petition picks up votes on the Change.org website. (Over 8 thousand signatories), the Karamzin’s case gains publicity in mass media too. The Karamzin’s case may have wide public resonance together with other loud debunking of the activity of law enforcing authorities.

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