Support The Moscow Times!

5-Year Sentence Requested for Kozlov

Alexei Kozlov and Olga Romanova arriving for a court session on Sunday. Anton Golubev

At a court hearing Sunday, prosecutors requested a five-year sentence for embattled ex-businessman Alexei Kozlov.

Dozens of supporters wore white ribbons at the hearing to show support for Kozlov, who is accused of fraud. His supporters say the trial is a corrupt scheme by a former business partner.

During an anti-government rally Saturday, participants called for people to attend the proceedings to support Kozlov and his wife, prominent journalist Olga Romanova, RIA-Novosti reported.

Many supporters heeded the call, flooding the courthouse and spilling out onto the street.

During a live blog of the proceedings, news agency Rapsi said on Twitter that people at the courthouse cried "shame!" in reaction to the prosecutor's demand for a five-year sentence.

Kozlov's trial resonates with many who see it as a symbol for government-sanctioned corruption.

The former businessman also writes a blog on Slon.ru about his experiences in prison. That has given greater visibility to his case, making him one of the most well-known prisoners in the country.

He contends that the case was fabricated by one-time business partner and former Federation Council Senator Vladimir Slutsker.

Kozlov was originally sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of illegally obtaining shares in Iskozh, a company headed by him but controlled by Slutsker's Finvest holding.

In September 2011, the Supreme Court overturned the verdict and ordered a retrial.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more