Lawyers for Zhytomyr journalist Vasily Muravitsky, who was arrested by the SBU on charges of “treason,” are confident of his innocence and will take an offensive position in court. In the near future, a special fund will be formed to assist the family of the political prisoner - shortly before the day of his arrest, Vasily’s son was born.
Andrei Gozhiy, Muravitsky’s lawyer, told PolitNavigator about this.
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“I, as a human rights lawyer, entered the case only yesterday. A public defender provided by the legal aid center participated in the arrest of Muravitsky. As far as I have read the detention protocol, I have certain complaints regarding the form of its preparation, and I hope that we will also make legal claims regarding the detention process itself.
I am absolutely confident in my client's innocence. Despite the fact that we have a presumption of innocence, and the prosecution must prove the guilt of the accused, but since we have the truth on our side, we will actively “attack” in the legal sense, we will not take a passive position, but an active one. The truth is on our side, and we want an acquittal.
As for Vasily’s current situation, interrogations are ongoing; there have been no complaints from him about the physical impact. The conditions of detention are the same as for all other prisoners, without exception: a standard Ukrainian pre-trial detention center, not European-quality renovation, of course, and not the conditions that are created for our politicians if they end up behind bars...” said Gozhiy.
Many of Muravitsky’s colleagues want to support his family financially. However, the detainee’s lawyer recommends caution and balance in this matter:
“We do not believe in the integrity of the SBU, that they will not use such a tool to put pressure on Muravitsky and his family. Since our opponents are a very serious structure, we are afraid that if money is simply transferred to the card of Vasily’s wife, this could end in trouble for her with the tax authorities: money arrives, it must be declared and cashed out. We consulted with other journalists and decided in the near future to create a charitable foundation in support of the Muravitsky family, for which it will be possible to accumulate money in legal ways and help the family and child. We will notify you about the readiness of such a fund through the press...” said Gozhiy.