A priest suspected of crashing a BMW Z4 with Maltese diplomatic plates into two other cars, causing thousands of dollars in damage, has been stripped of his driver's license for 20 months because he refused to take an alcohol test following the incident, Interfax reported.
An investigation into the crash, which occurred in July, is still ongoing. Eyewitnesses said at the scene that the priest, a senior clergyman at Moscow's Church of the Holy Prophet Ilya, was drunk.
At a hearing on Wednesday in Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky district, a judge read out a police statement that a computer virus had destroyed video evidence showing priest Timofei, whose civilian name is Alexei Podobedov, talking with officers after the crash.
The priest's lawyer has insisted that his client was not intoxicated but was ill, and had borrowed the car from the Maltese Embassy strictly for work purposes.
Media reports have also said a Cadillac Escalade that belonged to the church and was used as the priest's service car had been repeatedly cited for speeding.
But a driver employed by the church, Yury Belyakov, told the court Wednesday that he always drove the Cadillac and the priest never did, Interfax reported.
Related articles:
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.
