Monitoring the case of V. Muravitsky (court hearing 10.12.2019)

On December 10, 2019, in the Korolevsky District Court of Zhytomyr, a regular court session was held in the case of the journalist Vasily Muravitsky, who is accused of treason and encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine (part 2 of article 110, part 1 of article 111, part 2 of article 161, part 1, article 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) through his journalistic activities. Experts from the International Society for Human Rights continue to monitor this lawsuit.

The course of the session.

The lawyer Novitskaya did not appear at the hearing, arguing that she had another case. The prosecutor asked the court to draw attention to the fact that the date was planned, and the lawyer could plan her time to participate in the hearing, or at least warn the court in advance. The letter about the lawyer’s failure to appear in the court came only in the morning, before the trial itself.

The accused Muravitsky filed a motion declaring the refusal from the services of lawyer Novitskaya. He asked, in connection with the involvement of a new defense attorney, to postpone the hearing to the next previously agreed date. However, the court clarified that the refusal from the defense counsel is carried out in the presence of the attorney and therefore both defense counsels must arrive at the next hearing: the one with whom the contract is being canceled, and the one with whom it will be signed.

The next hearing is scheduled for January 27, 2020. Experts from the International Society for Human Rights will continue to monitor this trial.