Oksana Darova, the lawyer of convicted Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina, denied previous reports that her client was beaten by wardens in the Solikamsk detention facility.
Alyokhina's lawyer told Interfax that during their meeting on Thursday, a guard informed Alyokhina that she needed to go pack because she was scheduled to be moved from the Solikamsk facility to a prison in the city of Perm.
Darova asked for the guards to show her the proper documentation from the court asking for Alyokhina's relocation, but instead the guards showed Darova an order making sure the prisoner appeared in a videoconference. Alyokhina and her lawyer then refused relocation to the new prison.
"We said that due to the fact that there is no such order, Alyokhina is refusing to be moved. And in response they replied that if Alyokhina refuses, physical force will be used.We said okay, do as you deem fit, but these requirements are illegal," Darova said.
Soon after this a number of guards came and took Alyokhina away. Darova claims that there was no physical force used when they took the inmate away. According to Darova, her client was sent to the detention facility in Perm.
A report referencing Peter Verzilov, а member of the art collective Voina and the husband of imprisoned Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, had earlier stated that Alyokhina was beaten by the guards when she refused to be escorted to Perm.
Alyokhina, who was sentenced to two years in prison last August for her part in a masked punk rock performance on the altar of Christ the Savior Cathedral, was denied parole on May 23. Her defense team filed a complaint in the matter which the court will take up on July 24.
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.
