[Filmfestivalresearch] 'Foreign Agents' Trial Against Side by Side Adjourned Until Prosecutor Issues Documentation as to Why Checks were Launched Against Festival.

[Manny de Guerre]

'Foreign Agents' Trial Against Side by Side Adjourned Until Prosecutor
Issues Documentation as to Why Checks were Launched Against Festival. 

On Friday, 24th May, 2013 Side by Side LGBT Film Festival began to contest
allegations drawn up by the prosecutor accusing the organization of
violating Article 19.34 of the administrative code relating to the conduct
of non-commercial organizations and their status as 'foreign agents'. 

The trial held at the local magistrates court, No 206 (14 Kazanskaya Street)
was in session from 15.30 - 18.00. This was first 'foreign agents' hearing
in Saint Petersburg and in the region of 30 people: human rights defenders,
civil society activists, representatives from the local Ombudsmen for Human
Rights, came out in a show of support for the festival. At the beginning of
the session the public was however denied access and lawyers Dmitry Bartenev
and Sergey Golubok demanded from the judge Oleg Camaldinov to allow
spectators into the court. After 30 minutes of discussion 9 people: festival
organizers, lawyers and journalists were permitted access. The remaining
were left outside getting updates via telephone messaging. 

Lawyers opened the case insisting on an immediate adjournment firstly, due
to the inability of the court to ensure transparency as guaranteed by the
Constitution of the Russian Federation and secondly, due to the fact that
the case being brought to court by the prosecutor on unfounded grounds and
violations cited outside the requirements of the law. Both requests were
denied by the judge. 

Having gone through the evidence presented judge Camaldinov agreed with
lawyers that it was necessary for the Prosecutor's Office to present legal
documentation stipulating as to why the festival underwent checks. The
Prosecutor has been given 2 weeks to present the requested documentation.  

The case has been adjourned and following a hearing will held at 14.00 on 6
June, 2013. 

Lawyer Dmitry Bartenev commenting on the day's proceedings:  "We are pleased
that the judge has given us the opportunity to check the legitimacy of
checks launched by the Prosecutor's Office. At present there is no legal
grounding for the checks against Side by Side LGBT film festival  and
therefore the case should be dismissed."

Manny de Guerre

Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival

 <mailto:manny at bok-o-bok.ru> manny at bok-o-bok.ru 

Тel: +7.812.313.9341  

Mob+7.911.710.2702                 

 <http://www.bok-o-bok.ru/> www.bok-o-bok.ru  

 <http://shop.bok-o-bok.ru/> http://shop.bok-o-bok.ru

 

 <http://vkontakte.ru/club2049553> vkontakte
<http://www.twitter.com/sidebysideff> twitter
<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=mf&gid=253830262456> facebook

    

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