Judge Dmitry Ovrakh pointed out a number of procedural errors in the investigation in the episode with the interview «Sever.Realii»* at the previous session and suddenly suggested discussing the issue of returning Kozyreva's case to the prosecutor's office. Prosecutor Mikhail Russkikh stated that he was not ready to discuss this issue and asked to postpone the session.
At the session on December 26, the defense requested to return the case to the prosecutor's office and change the measure of restraint. «The right to freedom is a fundamental human right when deciding on a measure of restraint and detention. If the court decides to return the case to the prosecutor's office, I ask to choose a measure of restraint for Darya Kozyreva in the form of a ban on certain actions», — quotes «Mediazona»** lawyer Rafail Polyakov.
Darya Kozyreva once again stated that the criminal case is fabricated, and the only evidence — the examination — contains many errors. «Whether to return the case to the prosecutor's office or not is up to you. Our justice system also implies the issuance of an acquittal. As for the measure of restraint, I have been in a pre-trial detention center for ten months on a fabricated case. I am being judged for quoting a great poet…» — said Kozyreva.
After a 40-minute meeting, Judge Ovrakh decided to return the case to the prosecutor's office to correct deficiencies — the judge did not like the part concerning the interview «Sever.Realii». At the same time, he kept Kozyreva in custody for another month, until February 8.
In January 2024, activist Darya Kozyreva was expelled from St. Petersburg University due to an administrative fine for «discrediting» the Russian army. On February 24, she was detained for a poster on the monument to poet Taras Shevchenko with a fragment of his poem «Testament». On February 28, she was charged with «repeated discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces». The charge also included an episode with an interview with the channel «Sever.Realii», which had already been deleted.
In 2022, a criminal case was initiated against the then 17-year-old Kozyreva for intentional damage to property — the girl wrote on an installation on Palace Square dedicated to St. Petersburg's assistance to Mariupol, the words: «Murderers, you bombed it. Judas».
* Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent» and «undesirable» organization.
** Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent».
Photo: Mediazona