The 2nd Western District Military Court has begun hearing the criminal case against theater director Anastasia Berezhinskaya, mother of two minor daughters, who is accused of military "fakes," "discrediting the army," "calls for terrorism," and the murder of Putin due to seven publications on "VKontakte," writes SOTAvision*.
The attention of law enforcement was drawn to posts about genocide, the killing of peaceful Ukrainians, and torture in Bucha and Kramatorsk. The evidence in the case included official statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense denying war crimes by the Russian army. Stanislav Nikishin, an employee of the "E" center who examined Berezhinskaya's page and later participated in a search at her home, told the court that Anastasia had publications "mixed, including recipes," but there were also posts "discrediting" the army — "about unlawful actions of the Russian Armed Forces during the conduct of the special military operation," which "were not supported by any facts."
At the hearing, Berezhinskaya explained that she only partially admits her guilt. She confirmed the authorship of the publications but disagreed that her words contained calls for terrorism. The defendant also denied the motive of "political hatred." As reported by the correspondent of SOTAvision, in response to the judge's question, Berezhinskaya said she has a negative attitude towards the war, stating that in her Moscow district of Kapotnya, there was an explosion at an oil refinery, which she heard, and now everything there is covered with nets. The defendant's speech was interrupted by the court-appointed lawyer.
Under the article on "justification of terrorism," Berezhinskaya is charged with three comments under her own post from May 13, 2022, "inciting actions related to murder, including with firearms, of the president."
In court, the testimony of witness Parkhomenko from Krasnodar was read — she, offended by the defendant's posts, contacted Rospotrebnadzor. The investigation also provided an expert analysis confirming the presence of "calls for terrorism" in the publications.
Berezhinskaya is under a travel ban, she came to court herself and participated in the hearing with a court-appointed lawyer. According to the case materials, she has been diagnosed with "mixed personality disorder," but the commission concluded that she does not require compulsory treatment.
* Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent" and "undesirable" organization.
Photo: SOTAvision