Nikita Zhuravel refuses to challenge verdict in case on burning Koran

The deadline for filing an appeal in the criminal case against Nikita Zhuravel expired, and he did not lodge an appeal against the verdict.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that after the verdict in his case came into force, Nikita Zhuravel, a resident of Volgograd, convicted of burning the Koran, remained in a SIZO (pre-trial prison) in Grozny, where he is serving his sentence. The Criminal Executive Code provides for such a possibility in “exceptional cases.” On February 27, in Grozny, a court sentenced Nikita Zhuravel to 3.5 years of imprisonment, finding him guilty of violating the right to religion and hooliganism. The defence then announced the intention to lodge an appeal against the verdict.

The court of appeal may review the Nikita Zhuravel’s sentence if it is confirmed that he burned not the Koran, but a translation of the meanings of the Koran, but in the case of deliberate insult to the feelings of believers, no change in the sentence is likely to be pronounced, experts emphasize. Although the time spent by Nikita Zhuravel at the SIZO will be deducted from his sentence, the young man will always be at risk of attack by followers of the religion in the penal colony, readers of the “Caucasian Knot” note.

“The verdict was not challenged, and Nikita Zhuravel agreed with the sentence,” reported an advocate as quoted by the TASS news agency.

Let us remind you that on May 20, 2023, the police detained Nikita Zhuravel in Volgograd. According to the investigators’ version, the young man recorded a video showing the burning of the Koran, on the orders of the Ukrainian special services, and received money for that. The chair of the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) instructed his subordinates to transfer the case to Chechnya. The ICRF’s head explained the decision by appeals received from residents of the republic who asked to be recognized as the injured party.

The “Caucasian Knot” has also reported that on September 25, 2023, Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, posted on the Internet a video in which his son Adam was beating Nikita Zhuravel at the SIZO. The leader of Chechnya praised his son for his act. After that, Adam Kadyrov was awarded the title of Hero of Chechnya and the highest state awards of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria.