Yevgenia Khasis and Nikita Tikhonov, awaiting trial on charges of killing human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and a reporter in January 2009, were denied permission to marry while in detention, Interfax reported Tuesday.
The investigator working on the case said he would not sanction the marriage until the case is forwarded to the court, which is expected to happen by late October or early November, a friend of the suspects told Interfax.
Khasis and Tikhonov, who investigators say are ultranationalists, are accused in the shooting deaths of Markelov and Novaya Gazeta journalist Anastasia Baburova in downtown Moscow.
Investigators suspect that Khasis and Tikhonov want to get married to make a good impression for the jury, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported Saturday. Prison marriages are not a rarity, but usually only one of the spouses is an inmate, a city registry office official told the daily.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
