Sochi pensioner Atamanchuk calls his new case fabricated

A case on contempt of court was instituted against Vladimir Atamanchuk, a pensioner from Sochi, based on a complaint from a victim in a case on defamation. The activist was not informed what exact words became the reason for criminal prosecution. The Sochi pensioner considers the new case against him a continuation of persecution for his pacifist position.

“The victim took the protocol of the court hearing and found some words there that he considered an insult to himself,” said advocate Irina Zheltukhina.

In his turn, Vladimir Atamanchuk stated that based on the materials of his speech in the debate in court in the criminal case on defamation, victim Baev filed a complaint.

“I believe that the system snatches pacifists from the crowd, regardless of their age, illnesses, social status, and finishes them off with searches, arrests, interrogations, prisons, sentences, punishments, and new criminal cases ... Not everyone is able to endure the above pressure, especially older people. Many people’s health state and financial situation do not let them defend themselves from unfair persecution,” Vladimir Atamanchuk believes.

The Sochi pensioner called the new case against him “another denunciation to punish him for pacifism.”

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the court sentenced 72-year-old activist Vladimir Atamanchuk to 200 hours of compulsory labour. In addition, the Sochi pensioner is to pay 40,000 roubles in compensation to the victim. The court of appeal upheld the verdict.