Investigators have softened a charge against a boxer who caused the death of a man in a street brawl outside a Urals nightclub in October.
Junior boxing champion Valery Tretaykov, 22, will face a maximum prison sentence of two years in prison instead of a potential 15-year term after medical expert ruled he was not directly responsible for the man's death, Sverdlovsk region investigators said in a statement Wednesday.
Investigators have determined that the 28-year-old man died after being punched twice in the head by Tretayakov during an argument outside a nightclub.
Medical experts said the fatal blow was caused by the man cracking his head on the sidewalk after he was felled by Tretyakov's second punch. They ruled that his death had no direct connection with the punch.
As a result, an initial charge of intentionally causing grave bodily injuries resulting in manslaughter has been replaces with the less serious charge of ordinary manslaughter, Sverdlovsk region investigators said in a separate statement.
The conclusion of investigators in regard to Tretaykov mirrors last year's conclusion by a Moscow court in regard to mixed martial arts champion Rasul Mirzayev, who punched a student in the head in a brawl outside a Moscow nightclub in August 2011. A Moscow court later concluded that 19-year-old student Ivan Agafonov died not because of Mirzayev's punch but because of hitting his head on the asphalt when he fell after Mirzayev's punch.
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.
