Court in Krasnoyarsk continues to keep defendants charged with non-violent offenses in cells
Informal Take:
Listen up, folks. Former politician Sergei Natanov's legal team is primed to hit up Russia's Human Rights Ombudsman, claiming courts in Krasnoyarsk are blatantly disregarding Vladimir Putin's orders, the Constitution, and international laws.
Natanov's been hit with more than 100 court appearances since last December, some via video conferencing, and others shockingly shackled in court. Despite Putin's orders back in December 2022 to scrap this treatment of non-violent offenders, including women, kids, and the accused, the courts in Krasnoyarsk just can't seem to catch on.
According to Natanov's lawyer, Alexander Hropot, detaining individuals in cages and manacles goes against Article 21 and 49 of the Russian Constitution, which guarantees human dignity and the presumption of innocence.
Remember back in 2018 when the Federation Council submitted a bill to the State Duma banning those confinement cells and other stuff messing with confidential attorney-client communication? Yeah, that never saw the light of day.
Now, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has also chimed in, saying accused individuals should never be held in manacles or cages – but the court turned a deaf ear to the plea, leaving the legal team with no choice but to file an appeal in the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court and, yup, hit up the Human Rights Ombudsman.
Social media snaps from Natanov himself revealed the situation (see attached pics).
Let's talk about the broader context here. Recent cases in Krasnoyarsk involving Jehovah's Witnesses[1][4] and Crimean political prisoners[3] have shown courts aren't shy about slapping on severe punitive measures. And it's not just Krasnoyarsk – Yevgeniy Zinich received a strict-regime sentence[4], while Ukrainian prisoner Oleksandr Sizikov was shipped off to Siberian prisons under brutal conditions despite severe disabilities[3].
Some believe this brutality stems from Russian military structures, as cases like the 6th Motorized Rifle Division murders[5] suggest. The Southern District Military Court's handling of Sizikov's case[3] – including its refusal to consider prison service recommendations for medical parole – shows a clear disregard for human rights norms.
Unfortunately, Putin's administration sometimes acknowledges human rights issues (like military reforms post-2023 soldier abuse scandal[5]), but implementation leaves much to be desired. Courts tend to prioritize national security narratives over individual rights, especially in cases involving religious minorities[1][4] or Ukrainian detainees[3].
All in all, these patterns suggest the judicial system in Krasnoyarsk operates independently from federal guidance, especially in cases seen as national security issues. International norms seem like an afterthought at best, with punitive deterrence trumping individual rights[1][3][5].
- The formal appeal by Sergei Natanov's legal team will be submitted to the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court and the Human Rights Ombudsman of Russia, due to the alleged disregard of Vladimir Putin's orders, Russian Constitution, and international laws.
- In a section 32, referring to financial affairs of the Krasnoyarsk region, the upcoming '2023' meeting of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Duma will likely discuss the ongoing controversy about the treatment of accused individuals in Krasnoyarsk courts.
- For business owners, it is essential to monitor the news regarding the holding of accused individuals in manacles or cages in Krasnoyarsk courts as it may have potential implications on business relationships with the region.
- The United Nations Human Rights Committee's recommendation to avoid detaining accused individuals in manacles or cages was disregarded by the Krasnoyarsk courts and contributed to the legal team's decision to appeal the case.
