Sverdlovsk court keeps second suspect in Zezin beating case in custody until 27 November
In short
The Sverdlovsk regional court on 9 October rejected a defence appeal against the extension of Arkady Vagner's (Аркадий Вагнер) detention in the hooliganism case opened after the beating of scientist Nikita Zezin (Никита Зезин) in Yekaterinburg. Vagner will stay in custody until 27 November. Zezin, director of the agrarian centre of the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was assaulted on 13 July while inspecting experimental fields and later died of heart disease, according to investigators.
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The Sverdlovsk regional court on 9 October rejected a defence appeal against the extension of the detention of Arkady Vagner (Аркадий Вагнер), one of two men accused of hooliganism in the case opened after the beating of scientist Nikita Zezin (Никита Зезин) in Yekaterinburg, RIA Novosti reported from the courtroom. "The defence appeal against the decision of the court of first instance is left without satisfaction," the judge announced. Interfax reported the ruling citing the regional court's press service, and TASS reported that Vagner will remain in custody until 27 November. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The accused are Alexander Reveruk (Александр Реверук) and his business partner Vagner, according to RIA Novosti. Both deny guilt, and the Leninsky district court of Yekaterinburg had earlier extended their detention until 27 November. Interfax reported that the two local residents were charged under part 2 of article 213 of the Russian Criminal Code, hooliganism committed by a group of persons or involving resistance to a representative of authority or another person stopping a breach of public order. [ 1 , 2 ]
Defence lawyer Alexei Stadnikov (Алексей Стадников) asked for the hearing to be closed because information about the health of the accused's children would be disclosed; reporters were asked to leave only while that information was presented, RIA Novosti reported. Stadnikov said the investigation was "indulging" the press and public reaction. "This incident was filmed on video cameras from several angles. How can he influence other participants in the proceedings? How can he hinder the establishment of the truth?" he said. Vagner told the court: "Our direct aim is to prove that we did not commit any crime, and that a crime was committed specifically against our children." Only Zezin himself has been recognised as a victim in the case, RIA Novosti reported. [ 1 ]
According to investigators' account reported by Interfax, Zezin, director of the agrarian centre of the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was inspecting experimental fields and crops with his deputy Alexander Shanin (Александр Шанин) on 13 July. On one of the fields they saw children aged 8 to 10 and agreed with their parents to bring the minors to the city and hand them over. Four SUVs arrived at the meeting place, two men got out and one of them used physical force against Zezin. Some time later Zezin died of heart disease, Interfax reported. [ 2 ]
RIA Novosti reported that Zezin died in hospital on 22 July, according to preliminary data of a heart attack. Citing a statement by Sverdlovsk regional legislature deputy Vyacheslav Vegner (Вячеслав Вегнер), it said Zezin had been beaten shortly before his death; according to the deputy, the scientist and his deputy were inspecting experimental fields in Yekaterinburg when they saw teenagers on quad bikes damaging the crops, and Zezin called their parents. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The ruling keeps both accused men in custody while the investigation continues, despite the defence arguing that video evidence from several angles makes detention unnecessary. The case drew coverage from three national outlets, and the lawyer accused investigators of yielding to press attention and public reaction, which points to continued scrutiny of how the case is handled.
Key facts
- The Sverdlovsk regional court rejected the defence appeal against the extension of Arkady Vagner's detention. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Vagner remains in custody until 27 November. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Vagner and his business partner Alexander Reveruk (Александр Реверук) are accused of hooliganism and do not admit guilt. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The charge is under part 2 of article 213 of the Russian Criminal Code, hooliganism committed by a group or involving resistance to a representative of authority or another person stopping a breach of public order. [ 2 ]
- Investigators say Zezin was inspecting experimental fields with his deputy on 13 July when two men got out of four SUVs and one of them used physical force against him. [ 2 ]
- Zezin died in hospital on 22 July, according to preliminary data of a heart attack. [ 1 ]
- Only Zezin himself has been recognised as a victim in the case. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Who was in the field before the confrontation: RIA Novosti, citing deputy Vyacheslav Vegner (Вячеслав Вегнер), refers to teenagers on quad bikes damaging crops, while Interfax, citing investigators, refers to children aged 8 to 10. The two outlets give differing descriptions of the minors involved.
- Zezin's cause of death: RIA Novosti says he died of a heart attack according to preliminary data, while Interfax says he died of heart disease. The outlets' wording differs and RIA Novosti marks the information as preliminary.
- Vagner said a crime was committed against the defendants' children, but the documents give no details of what he meant. Single statement by the accused in court, not described further.