Embattled Russian defense lawyer Boris Kuznetsov, who has been granted political asylum in the United States, has told journalists he believes the criminal case against him will soon be dismissed without prejudice.
Prosecutors announced on May 25 that a warrant for his arrest has been revoked.
Kuznetsov fled Russia in 2007 after being charged with revealing state secrets in his defense of former Federation Council member Levon Chakhmakhchyan.
Prosecutors claimed that Kuznetsov acted illegally when he informed the court in the Chakhmakhchyan case that his client had been illegally wiretapped by the Federal Security Service (FSB).
“I am not guilty,” Kuznetsov told RIA Novosti today, “since all I did was fulfill my professional obligations and caught the FSB red-handed, with some of its representatives violating the constitution since they do not have the right to eavesdrop on a member of the Federation Council, who has immunity from prosecution.”
Kuznetsov said the decision to cancel the warrant was “unexpected, considering what is going on in the legal sphere in Russia.”
He did not say whether he plans to return to Russia if the case against him is closed.
(by Robert Coalson)
Prosecutors announced on May 25 that a warrant for his arrest has been revoked.
Kuznetsov fled Russia in 2007 after being charged with revealing state secrets in his defense of former Federation Council member Levon Chakhmakhchyan.
Prosecutors claimed that Kuznetsov acted illegally when he informed the court in the Chakhmakhchyan case that his client had been illegally wiretapped by the Federal Security Service (FSB).
“I am not guilty,” Kuznetsov told RIA Novosti today, “since all I did was fulfill my professional obligations and caught the FSB red-handed, with some of its representatives violating the constitution since they do not have the right to eavesdrop on a member of the Federation Council, who has immunity from prosecution.”
Kuznetsov said the decision to cancel the warrant was “unexpected, considering what is going on in the legal sphere in Russia.”
He did not say whether he plans to return to Russia if the case against him is closed.
(by Robert Coalson)