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Udaltsov sentenced to community work for beating journalist

Udaltsov’s lawyer was surprised by the severity of the court ruling
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

ULYANOVSK, June 27 (Itar-Tass) — A court in Ulyanovsk on Wednesday sentenced Sergei Udaltsov, the coordinator of the opposition Left Front movement, to 240 hours of compulsory community work for beating a woman journalist in Ulyanovsk.

The opposition leader was found guilty on charges of inflicting bodily harm or committing other violent actions causing physical pain. The punishment for this kind of offence may range from a penalty worth up to 40,000 rubles to up to three months behind bars.

The incident occurred at an authorized anti-NATO rally in Ulyanovsk on April 21. Udaltsov himself denied his guilt. He said he would appeal the court ruling because he considers it to be unfair. Udaltsov claimed the court had ignored some vital documents and video materials.

Udaltsov’s lawyer Violetta Volkova said she was surprised by the severity of the court ruling.

She said she had recently had a case in Moscow in which the defendant was sentenced to a five thousand ruble fine and to paying 1,000 rubles in compensation for the moral damage for inflicting bodily harm under article “Battery”.

“I can hardly remember that a sentence involving community work has ever been passed under this article, let alone the duration of these works. If a working week last for 40 hours, Udaltsov will have to work for six months,” Volkova went on to say.

She also promised to turn to the European Court of Human Rights because there had been numerous violations of the European Convention during the court investigation.