The key facts
- The appeal in Lerchek's case is scheduled for November 5; the hearing is closed
- Chekalina's personal attendance depends on her health
- Both sides appealed the verdict: the defense demands acquittal, the prosecution demands a harsher sentence
The hearing was moved to an earlier date
Blogger Valeria Chekalina, known as Lerchek, is considering attending in person the appeal hearing on her case at the Moscow City Court, scheduled for November 5 and to be held behind closed doors. Her lawyer Konstantin Tretyakov told RIA Novosti:
The essence of the verdict and the parties' positions
On July 31, Moscow's Gagarinsky District Court sentenced Lerchek to five years of suspended imprisonment, a fine of 763.5 million rubles, and a three-year ban on administering websites. The case concerns illegal currency operations involving the transfer of more than 250 million rubles to the accounts of non-residents in the UAE. Both sides appealed the verdict: the defense is seeking an acquittal, while the prosecution insists on six years of suspended imprisonment and an extension of the ban on administering websites to five years. In the same case, the blogger's ex-husband Artyom Chekalin received seven years in a penal colony and a fine of 194 million rubles, while business partner Roman Vishnyak received two and a half years of imprisonment and a fine of 500 thousand rubles.
Additionally: the investigator in the jewelry case
Earlier, Life.ru reported that no restrictive measure was chosen for investigator Nikita Tulupov, accused of negligence over the disappearance of a Rolex watch and a Bulgari bracelet seized during the investigation, with a total value of 14.4 million rubles. Law enforcement saw no grounds for restricting his freedom; Tulupov himself denies guilt. Also, according to Life.ru, Lerchek's defense is preparing documents for her trip to China for treatment.
