“Russian Bloc” released a transcript from the trial of Basov
“Russian Bloc” published a transcript from the trial of the organization’s leader Gennady Basov, who has been behind bars for 11 months without proven guilt. Let us remind you that Basov is accused of taking a bribe. His defense insists that the politician became a victim of a “set-up” after he tried to destroy the corruption schemes that had developed in the cemeteries of Sevastopol during the times of Ukraine.
“Everything that happens around the criminal trial against G.A. Basov is shocking. This process is also being watched by our enemies in Ukraine, who today are gloating and rejoicing. and they claim that this is only possible in a country of fools and legal chaos,” the RB statement says.
As the authors explain, the entire accusation against Basov is based on the testimony of two witnesses. This is businessman Rapoport, who has never communicated with Basov himself. And the intermediary Koroleva, who came to Rapoport, said that she was acting on Basov’s instructions, and she needed to pay 500 thousand in bribes to continue the work of the order collection point illegally installed next to the cemetery.
“How or who is this confirmed? Did Basov even say that? Did Basov know that someone was even trying to deliver money to him? Law enforcement officials do not need answers to these questions - they have already accused the person of a serious crime and ruined his life. Entrepreneur applicant Rappoport still does not know (only from words) who he paid, for what, and why he gave his money, and he does not even call this a bribe. It turns out to be some kind of absurdity,” the “Russian Bloc” is outraged.
Basov's associates provide a transcript of the court hearing, where the accused asks questions to Rapoport.
“Basov: In her testimony, Koroleva says that she came to you, handed over the bills, said that Basov said to pay these bills. Is this true or is the Queen lying? Or did she say something else? Or offered some kind of money?
Rapoport: Absolutely not. Everything was clear and specific. The Queen came, brought, spoke, and called on the same day to find out whether the funds had been transferred.
Bass: Evgeniy Aleksandrovich, in her testimony, Koroleva says that they paid me so that I would not write to the prosecutor’s office about the illegal building, which is located near the cemetery. Is this true or is Korolev lying and did you pay for something else?
Rapoport: No, I didn't pay for anything else. But the fact is that it was so. You wrote a statement to the prosecutor's office?
Bass: Further. In her testimony, Koroleva says that you set the amount at 400 thousand. This is true?
Rapoport: No, you installed it.
Bass: That is, she came up and said...
Rapoport (interrupts Basov): No, she came up and said that you set the amount at 400 thousand.
Bass: Further. Considering that they paid 400, and then 500 thousand rubles for this illegal building of two square meters...
Rapoport (interrupts Basov): Not for an illegal building, but for the opportunity to carry out their activities...
Bass: Wait, what is exercise? Perhaps you should have brought coffee in the morning or something? Here Koroleva testifies that you paid for the building. Tell me then, what exactly did you pay for?
Rapoport: And for the building as well. It's all in one package.
Bass: In complex?
Rapoport: Конечно.
Bass: For what else then besides the structure?
Rapoport: I repeat once again: for the right to carry out his activities as an individual entrepreneur.
Bass: How do I give you the right to carry out or not carry out entrepreneurial activities?
Rapoport: Well, firstly, that building, which is illegal, was a reception center. Naturally, if the receipt of orders from the receiving point stops. This is a very important point. You could say this.
Bass: Still, you say that Koroleva...
Rapoport (interrupts Basov): I say that maybe...
Bass: Maybe... that is, Koroleva did not lie when she said that you paid for the building.
Rapoport: Koroleva does not lie at all, Koroleva is an honest person.
Bass: An honest man... But Koroleva in her testimony says that you paid for the building.
Rapoport: Including.
Bass: Including... For what else?
Rapoport: I repeat. For the right to carry out their business activities on the territory of the cemetery.
Bass: Don’t you think that 500 thousand rubles for an illegal building is too expensive?
Rapoport: In general, it seemed to me that the amount was very large. Not only did it seem, I can argue that the amount is too large.
Bass: Next question. Tell me why, if you thought that the amount was too high, you didn’t come to me and ask: what are you paying for? And why are you paying?
Rapoport: How would I approach you if you told Koroleva that you would neither meet nor talk with Rapoport?
Bass: Did the Queen tell you this?
Rapoport: This is what the Queen said.
Bass: It's clear. Next question. They said that Koroleva told you that she transferred money to me every time. Is it for me the money or as she said? Was the money transferred or was it handed over to Basov? What did she say? How did she tell you?
Rapoport: Korolev no, she didn’t say so. I made a cash payment, she called and said that you are asking a question: did I transfer the money or not? When I transferred it, I reported to Koroleva that I had transferred the money, and she reported to you.
Bass: She reported to me that...
Rapoport (interrupts Basov): ...that the payment has been made.
Bass: And then tell me, please, did Koroleva inform you that I received this money? Right? I repeat again.
Rapoport: She informed me that she reported to you about the transfer of funds.
Bass: And when you transferred funds, did Basov’s name appear there?
Rapoport: I don't remember. I have not looked into this document.
Bass: Next question. When did you pay these bills, who were the payers on these bills?
Rapoport: Rapoport Evgeniy Alexandrovich.
Bass: Was it written "Rapoport"? The queen brought the payment, and it said “Rapoport”?
Rapoport: There was nothing written there. I brought my passport, at the ticket office they ask for a passport, if you know. I gave him my passport, and it was written there.
Bass: That is, you came to the cashier, gave a payment slip and a passport and said that “I will pay.” So you appointed yourself as the payer? Right?
Rapoport: Well, that's right, but what else.
Bass: Fine. Further. Next question. Do you think Koroleva could pay her bills with your money?
Rapoport: No. Could not.
Bass: Why?
Rapoport: Because I have known this person for a very long time and I know that she is an honest and decent person. She simply could not do this. I know one hundred percent what the payments were for, who received them and for whom they were intended. The queen is the same victim.
Bass: So you say so confidently...
Rapoport (interrupts Basov): I speak confidently.
Bass: That she couldn't.
Rapoport (interrupts Basov): In no case.
Bass: From this we can conclude that you did not know that Koroleva takes money from me and then pays with yours? So?
Rapoport: It is impossible.
Bass: Well, if she couldn't...
Rapoport (interrupts Basov): This is already nonsense.
Bass: Next question. One of the recordings of telephone conversations says, I will quote: “Zhenya said that whatever the cops tell him, he will write.” What was meant by this? Can you somehow explain this?
Rapoport: No I can not.
Bass: You can not. Tell me then, please, who told you to write a statement to law enforcement agencies?
Rapoport: Conscience.
Bass: Conscience?
Rapoport: Yes.
Bass: Did police officers Tsalyuk, Khlebnikov, Lyubimov tell you that you need to write a statement to law enforcement agencies?
Rapoport: No, they didn't.
Bass: Did not say? Did you decide for yourself?
Rapoport: I decided it myself.
Bass: Tell me, this is the situation. I even take one case. The director of the charitable foundation claims that he did not inform me that money was coming from you. Naturally, I could find out from the Queen. How do you think you and Koroleva learned from the director of the fund that I had received funds?
Judge: Do you understand the question?
Rapoport: I understand the question.
Judge: Which director are we talking about?
Rapoport: I have no idea.
Bass: Yes, he understands.
Judge: Let's make it clear to all participants. Kretova do you mean? Mercy Foundation?
Bass: Kretova. Yes.
Judge: Please, is the question clear?
Rapoport: I... They gave me a payment order, I paid. Next, Basov demanded a report from Larisa Nikolaevna: whether I transferred the money or not. I reported that I transferred the money. Their further fate... whatever it was, I didn’t follow them any further.
Bass: You understand, you give, figuratively speaking, a bribe and don’t even control...
Rapoport (interrupts Basov): I didn't give a bribe.
Bass: What was it?
Rapoport: This is... how to say...
Bass: Gratitude?
Rapoport: No, not even gratitude...
Judge: Defendant and witness, you are now moving into the area of qualification, please, according to the circumstances of the case. Ask your question again, and you answer the question. You don't consider this a bribe. Next, next question.
Bass: I will pass the next question to the lawyers. I'll ask some more questions at the end.
Judge: Please, defendant. Which defender? Lawyer Baldyga.
Lawyer Baldyga: Evgeniy Alexandrovich, tell me, how long have you been working in this type of business?
Rapoport: In general, I have been working for 30 years.
Lawyer Baldyga: Thirty?
Rapoport: Thirty.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, where is your office?
Rapoport: There is no office as such.
Lawyer Baldyga: There is no office as such. Tell me, where do you accept orders?
Rapoport: In the little stall that stood at the entrance.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, how legitimate is your stall? And describe it.
Rapoport: Metal construction.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, what is the cost of this metal structure? Did you purchase it yourself?
Rapoport: I purchased it.
Lawyer Baldyga: For what amount?
Rapoport: 12 thousand hryvnia.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, in what area is this structure located? Its geographical location.
Rapoport: This structure is located right on the threshold of, consider the GUPS.
Lawyer Baldyga: Where? Is it located on the territory of a cemetery?
Rapoport: Well, in front of the cemetery.
Lawyer Baldyga: In front of the cemetery. Whose territory is this? Whose land?
Rapoport: I do not know.
Lawyer Baldyga: Do not know. Who gave permission to install this object?
Rapoport: I do not remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Do you have such permission?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: Do you not remember or did no one give permission?
Rapoport: I do not remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Have you applied anywhere for permission?
Rapoport: I do not remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, are you feeling well?
Rapoport: After the hospital, not so much.
Lawyer Baldyga: After the hospital. What diagnosis did you have in the hospital?
Rapoport: Acute poisoning.
Lawyer Baldyga: So it doesn't affect memory?
Rapoport: But why? Age affects memory.
Lawyer Baldyga: Age. Tell me, please, did you say that Koroleva indicated to you that Basov gave instructions that no one from those people who were involved in the Beglyarov case should work on the territory of the cemetery?
Rapoport: This is exactly how it is.
Lawyer Baldyga: Exactly. Please tell me, list those people who were involved in the Beglyarov case.
Rapoport: Rapoport, Pisarenko, Pykin, Pykina.
Lawyer Baldyga: Four people.
Rapoport: Well, this is me from memory...
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, were any of these persons fired by Basov?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, did any of these persons suffer in any legal way during Basov’s work in terms of doing business, work, income, and so on?
Rapoport: They paid, so they were not harmed.
Lawyer Baldyga: Who among these four paid?
Rapoport: I paid, Koroleva, Pisarenko.
Lawyer Baldyga: Did you pay, did Koroleva pay?
Rapoport: Yes, and Pisarenko.
Lawyer Baldyga: And did Pisarenko pay?
Rapoport: Yes.
Boldyr's lawyer: And did the Queen pay too?
Rapoport: Well. Didn't pay
Lawyer Baldyga: So did the Queen also pay? You just said: “The Queen also paid.”
Rapoport: I paid, Pisarenko paid.
Lawyer Baldyga: Did Koroleva pay or not pay?
Rapoport: She handed me money. For transmission to Basov. I have already mentioned.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, why didn’t Pykin pay Pykin, who were also involved in the Beglyarov case?
Rapoport: This is a question for Pykin.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, please, then why did you pay, according to your words, Pisarenko paid and Koroleva, who was also involved, paid? In connection with what did you, Pisarenko and Koroleva pay?
Rapoport: Let's check the boxes for how many times I answer this question. For the right to carry out activities on the territory of the Balaklava Highway cemetery.
Lawyer Baldyga: Hence the second question. Tell me, is Pykin currently carrying out business activities on the territory of the cemetery at the address - Balaklava Highway?
Rapoport: Implements.
Lawyer Baldyga: Implements. Does it carry out without hindrance?
Rapoport: Unhindered.
Lawyer Baldyga: Unhindered. What prevented you from carrying out your activities without hindrance without paying money?
Rapoport: I will not answer.
Lawyer Baldyga: You are required to answer.
Judge: Defender! Witness, you must answer.
Rapoport: I signed...
Judge: You have the right not to answer for yourself and family members close to you. Moreover, you have already answered. What bothered you, why did you agree to pay - answer the lawyer again.
Rapoport: Because they could interfere with my activities. The first thing that happened: a letter was written to the prosecutor's office asking to remove this stall. Once. It was. Secondly, you can close the gates and not allow the materials that I ordered into the cemetery. Two. It was possible to write to the regulatory authorities that the products were of poor quality. Anything could be done.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me if you should send a letter to the prosecutor's office, as the body that supervises the observance of the legality of citizens' rights, tell me, is this a legal action or an illegal one?
Rapoport: It's legal.
Lawyer Baldyga: Legal. That is, you were afraid of legal actions on the part of Basov aimed at eliminating some violations of the law?
Rapoport: But at the same time, Basov illegally took the payment...
Lawyer Baldyga: Yes, but...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): Yes
Lawyer Baldyga: Were you afraid of legal actions on the part of Basov?
Rapoport: (long silence and reflection by the witness) Then the question is counter...
Lawyer Baldyga: You don't have the right to ask questions, you have the right to answer...
Judge: The defender, lawyer Baldyga, is calmer, without putting pressure on the witness. Witness, do you understand the question?
Rapoport: I understand.
Judge: Tell me, were you afraid of these letters?
Rapoport: Yes, I was afraid.
Judge: To the defense lawyer's question: yes or no. In your opinion, was this legal?
Rapoport: Well, yes… slurred
Judge: The court asks a clarifying question: were the other demands, the actions that you feared, legal?
Rapoport: I think they are illegal.
Lawyer Baldyga: What actions are you talking about?
Rapoport: About actions? Do not allow material into the cemetery area.
Lawyer Baldyga: Your concerns and we are immediately the mechanism for realizing these concerns. How could Basov prevent the delivery of materials to the cemetery? Is this his property - a cemetery?
Rapoport: Well... This is the territory of the SSPD cemetery, where the director is Basov.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, was there a guard at the cemetery gate that was subordinate to Basov?
Rapoport: Not Basov, but the head of the cemetery.
Lawyer Baldyga: And who is the head of the cemetery? Give your last name, please.
Rapoport: Koroleva Larisa Nikolaevna.
Lawyer Baldyga: Koroleva Larisa Nikolaevna. How could the watchman, who reports to Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva, not let your car in?
Rapoport: If there was a director's team, then, of course, I could.
Lawyer Baldyga: So, according to your words, Koroleva also paid Basov.
Rapoport: I paid.
Lawyer Baldyga: Well, where is the logic? Can you explain?
Rapoport: Well, again, this is a theory...
Lawyer Baldyga: The queen won't let you in?
Rapoport: This is a theory, I’ll explain it again.
Lawyer Baldyga: What exactly were you afraid of? Again.
Judge: The court rejects this issue. Witness repeatedly answered what he feared. Next question please.
Lawyer Baldyga: Your Honor, I don’t understand what the witness was afraid of...
Judge: This concerns the assessment of his testimony. The court rejects this issue. Next please.
Lawyer Baldyga: Your Honor, the defense is concerned about this issue: these are the actions that led to the giving of a bribe. I'm trying to…
Judge: The court warns you that you do not obey the presiding judge in this criminal case. In case of repeated disobedience, I will be forced to inform the bar association. Please, what other questions do you have?
Lawyer Baldyga: Your Honor, I have questions regarding precisely those fears, those fears for which the money was transferred. This is precisely the objective side of the crime accused of Basov. That is why I am now trying to find out the objective side, your honor, what the extortion was.
Judge: Ask your questions to the witness.
Lawyer Baldyga: Thank you, I will ask questions to the witness with your permission. Please tell me what you were afraid of, what consequences of extortion? Extortion is a person’s fear that he will not hand over money. Not in terms of legal, but other actions?
Rapoport: You know, I want to say this: consequences, which means there were two attacks on me. The attacks were related to my professional activities. I may be afraid of this too. If you don’t understand, I’m explaining to you for the thirty-fifth time that I was attacked. And this was related to my activities. And I wasn’t sure that Basov wouldn’t come to the same conclusion. The fact that there were threats against me over the phone. I was told that I would not live to see the New Year. What else can I tell you?
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, what does Basov have to do with your attacks?
Rapoport: I explain that my activities that I carry out are related to my attacks. Under Mr. Basov, I continued to carry out my activities. And I was not sure that another attack would not be carried out on me. Including. The building you mentioned, the attack, everything else, and the closed gates all have something to do with this. In complex.
Lawyer Baldyga: And before Basov took the position at GUPS, did you pay money?
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: Who?
Rapoport: Beglyarov.
Lawyer Baldyga: And before Beglyarov arrived, did they pay money?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: During what period of time were the attacks carried out on you?
Rapoport: The first was in April '14, three times in March '15.
Lawyer Baldyga: Who was the director?
Rapoport: The first time - Kuzin, the second time - Beglyarov.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me how many entrepreneurs work on the territory of the cemetery?
Rapoport: I can not say exactly
Lawyer Baldyga: Approximately.
Rapoport: More than twenty.
Lawyer Baldyga: More than twenty. Tell me, why, out of twenty entrepreneurs, Koroleva, in your words, presented demands for payment to only two? Not even two, but you...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): Koroleva made Basov’s demands on us, not her own. Basov demanded bass from us. Basov!
Lawyer Baldyga: Basov. Basov demanded bass from you, and nineteen other entrepreneurs, why didn’t they pay? Did they continue to engage in activities?
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): You have to start somewhere. He started with us, and then he would have reached others... Who knows? I don't know. I cannot answer this question.
Judge: A clarifying question for you, witness, tell me, do you know whether other individual entrepreneurs paid for any services or non-services?
Rapoport: Well I do not know…
Judge: Then why do you answer the question like that, without knowing the circumstances...
Rapoport (interrupts the judge): And he asks: why from us, and not from them...
Judge: You know, others paid...
Rapoport (interrupts the judge): No, not known.
Judge: Please, defender, next question.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, were you a witness and know for sure that the money that you transferred to Koroleva was transferred to Basov?
Rapoport: I know that the money was transferred to Basov.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, when and in connection with what you know this, what did you witness?
Rapoport: I was not a witness to this, but again, I repeat that I believe Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva as much as I do myself.
Lawyer Baldyga: So you know this from Koroleva’s words?
Rapoport: I know this from the words of Korolev.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, you said that Koroleva explained to you the whole mechanism of transferring funds to Basov. In connection with what, she told you about this?
Rapoport: Because I have a trusting relationship with the Queen. I've known her for a very long time. This, as they say, is ours... I handed over the money, she reported to me.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, you said that all persons who participated in the Beglyarov case should be removed from the territory of the cemetery, including Korolev, as you said, she also participated in the Beglyarov case. However, after some time, Koroleva is not subject to, so to speak, tribute from Basov, but she becomes his confidant, who is supposedly tasked with collecting money from you. Why is this so? Here he wants to remove her, but here he appoints her, so to speak, as his right hand in collecting money?
Rapoport: Well, uh...
Lawyer Baldyga: Didn't this raise any suspicions in you?
Rapoport: So it was an element of fear, like a lever of pressure….
Lawyer Baldyga: On whom?
Rapoport: To Korolev and me
Lawyer Baldyga: On whom?
Rapoport: To Korolev: I won’t remove you, but you pay me. That's all.
Lawyer Baldyga: So you agreed...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): I think so.
Lawyer Baldyga: Why were cash funds transferred in one case and non-cash funds in the other?
Rapoport: The question is not for me.
Lawyer Baldyga: Who determined these conditions?
Rapoport: Basov Gennady Anatolyevich.
Lawyer Baldyga: Did he bring them to you personally?
Rapoport: No. Through Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva.
Lawyer Baldyga: That is, the Queen brought them to you?
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me what details the money transfer receipts contained and what they were used for payment...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): I didn't get into it.
Lawyer Baldyga: Have you read them?
Rapoport: Do not read.
Lawyer Baldyga: Didn't read it. That is, you paid all the receipts that Koroleva gave you.
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, did you inform the court that as soon as Koroleva presented you with a demand for a monthly payment of 400 thousand rubles to Basov, you contacted law enforcement agencies in this regard.
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: When it was? Who exactly did you contact? What documents were drawn up on this matter?
Rapoport: I don’t remember when it was. I wrote a statement.
Lawyer Baldyga: I wrote a statement. Where was it?
Rapoport: On Pushkina, 10.
Lawyer Baldyga: On Pushkina, 10. Was it the duty station or were you going up...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): No, I went up to the office.
Lawyer Baldyga: To the office. Who did you write the application to?
Rapoport: I do not remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Don't remember. Were you allowed to enter the floors at 10 Pushkina without any hindrance? Or did you mention some last name?
Rapoport: No. I do not remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Don't remember - what?
Rapoport: I don't remember how it all happened.
Lawyer Baldyga: Don't remember how it all happened.
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: Did you call anyone before this?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: We didn't talk on the phone. At Pushkina, 10, at the entrance there is a duty station and security guards. What did you tell security?
Rapoport: I do not remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Your Honor, I ask that case sheet 79, case volume 1 be read out. This is a statement from citizen Rapoport.
Judge: Now, just a minute, defender. The participants who have gathered here, who are in the hall, if you find it funny, you can laugh outside the courtroom. Do not interfere with the participants' consideration of this complex case. I give you a warning once again. If there is something that makes you laugh, then please, I will be forced to remove you from the courtroom. Please sit and listen and watch what is happening. Nothing else. You have no authority. I see, right? Please, defender, what did you want?
Lawyer Baldyga: I ask that case sheet 79, volume 1 be read out. This is a statement from citizen Rapoport.
Judge: For what?
Lawyer Baldyga: Your Honor, in order that the statement...
Judge (interrupts the lawyer): The witness said that he was writing a statement. If there are any contradictions...
Lawyer Baldyga: Absolutely right. Yes, your honor. It was registered on September 25th, this is a statement. Therefore, the defense has a logical question: in September, judging by the charges filed...
Judge (interrupts the lawyer): You may ask: was it in September or July or June
Lawyer Baldyga: He said as soon as the demand was received, and judging by the charges, we did not receive the demand in September. When it was?
Rapoport: I don't remember. If each step specifically went there... I don’t remember it. They gave money, they handed over money...
Lawyer Baldyga: But in September Basov was already arrested. How many payments did you make to Basov? Could you make five payments in four, okay, five days: from the 25th to the 29th?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: Could not. Then how can you explain it...
Judge: The court has a clarifying question: did you say as soon as the first demand was presented to you - was it in the summer, autumn?
Rapoport: In summer.
Judge: you went straight away...
Rapoport (interrupts the judge): At least in the summer... this is in September
Judge: Could you write an application before September?
Rapoport: If it says September 25...
Judge: Does the application really indicate the date it was on the day it was written?
Rapoport: Well… slurred
Judge: Why did you say...
Rapoport (interrupts the judge): Because I don't remember. The injury was to the head. The point is not when I wrote what. The point is that they were transmitted...
Judge (interrupting the witness): Witness, what is the essence - we will figure it out. Your responsibility is to answer questions. Please.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me the amount indicated in the application is 500 thousand rubles per month. In your testimony you indicated the amount of 400 thousand rubles. Then – how much did you pay?
Rapoport: 500 thousand. 400 thousand plus 100 thousand, which Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva gave. Total – 500.
Lawyer Baldyga: When did you learn that Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva was paying 100 thousand rubles?
Rapoport: Right away.
Lawyer Baldyga: Straightaway. Is this right in June? In June?
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: And Larisa Nikolaevna paid 100 thousand monthly?
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, did you have the physical opportunity to meet Basov?
Rapoport: Naturally, there was.
Lawyer Baldyga: Why didn't you take this opportunity to find out...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): Twenty-fifth time I answer: Basov refused to meet with me. He said that I would not meet or talk with Rapoport.
Lawyer Baldyga: Great. How do you know this? Basov for you...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): From Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva.
Lawyer Baldyga: That is, Koroleva forbade you to meet with Basov? Did she say that Basov won’t meet with you? Did I understand correctly?
Rapoport: Basov conveyed through Koroleva that he would not meet with me, and it was not Koroleva who forbade me.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, this is the last question: how much money do you pay monthly in the form of taxes to the budget as an individual entrepreneur?
Rapoport: Well... it doesn't matter
Lawyer Baldyga: In thirty years, I think...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): I haven't been working for thirty years. I have been working at the company for thirty years.
Lawyer Baldyga: Okay, last year, how much taxes were paid?
Rapoport: I do not remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Don't remember. Your Honor, in this regard, I have a motion to request Rapoport’s income declaration to the tax authority. I will explain my petition: was citizen Rapoport physically able...
Judge: Lawyer Baldyga, the interrogation procedure is now underway. You will be able to submit your requests after the interrogation. Perhaps your colleagues will eliminate the information you want to know. Do you have any more questions?
Lawyer Baldyga: No, your honor. Lawyer Sharap, please. 23-04
Lawyer Sharap: What can you say about whether Basov, as director of the SSPD enterprise, had control over individual entrepreneurs operating in the field of funeral services? Do you understand the question?
Rapoport: I understand the question. Elementary control, of course.
Lawyer Sharap: How so?
Rapoport: Go to the cemetery yourself and count who did what
Lawyer Sharap: Did he have such a function, provided by the Government of Sevastopol? Do you know about this or not?
Rapoport: I don't know. I don't understand.
Lawyer Sharap: Do not know. Can you say that Basov had such a function...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): I don't understand the question, I can't answer it.
Lawyer Sharap: I repeat again...
Rapoport (interrupts the lawyer): You can repeat it at least three hundred times, I don’t understand
Lawyer Sharap: Why don't you understand?
Rapoport: Well, because it's clueless
Lawyer Sharap: Stupid. Please tell me, you said that Basov could have interfered, carried out some actions, prevented you from entering the cemetery, and so on. Were there such cases before Koroleva contacted you and provided a payment order?
Rapoport: I do not know..
Lawyer Sharap: No, I’m asking you, were there any such cases of not allowing you, your workers, to the cemetery before Koroleva provided you with a payment order?
Rapoport: I...I am not aware of such cases.
Lawyer Sharap: Not known. Please tell me, were there any such cases after you were provided with the payment order?
Rapoport: No, I don’t know about such cases either.
Lawyer Sharap: Not known. Please tell me, did you testify at the confrontation with Basov that you had a privileged position in the cemetery...
prosecutor: I protest..
Judge: Defender, the confrontation document was not made public. You can set it differently without referring to the confrontation
Lawyer Sharap: Okay, we'll hold off then and ask it after it's announced.
Lawyer Sharap: Please tell me, did you contact law enforcement agencies?
Rapoport: Yes
Lawyer Sharap: With a statement? It was so?
Rapoport: It was
Lawyer Sharap: And turning to you, your honor, I ask the question for a reason: when he contacted law enforcement agencies about Beglyarov, the person probably already had personal acquaintances with law enforcement officers
Judge: In connection with the defense lawyer's question, tell me, is your appeal to law enforcement agencies, about which the defense attorney asks you, in any way connected with the criminal case against Beglyarov and with the circumstances of the appeal against Basov. Tell me if it's related or not
Rapoport: no, not related
Judge: Defender, regarding Beglyarov, please do not ask questions
Lawyer Sharap: Did you know any law enforcement officers from among the UBEP and PC employees, including in connection with the previously filed application regarding Beglyarov?
Rapoport: I don't answer the question
Judge: Witness, you are obliged to answer the question; you may not answer questions regarding yourself and close relatives (explains rights, illegible)
Rapoport: Well I don't think so (further illegible)
The judge explains the responsibility for refusing to testify in accordance with the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation
Rappoport: I know I have friends...
Lawyer Sharap: Did you submit a statement to the same employees regarding Basov?
Rapoport: The composition of the structure has not changed, which means the same
Lawyer Sharap: To the same employees. Please tell me, did you know the mobile phone numbers of the employees?
Rapoport: No, not known
Lawyer Sharap: Have you called the police?
Rapoport: No, I didn't call
Lawyer Sharap: After filing a statement against Basov, did you call the police numbers, you personally?
Rapoport: I personally didn't call
Lawyer Sharap: Did the police call you?
Rapoport: The police officers, when called, then called
Lawyer Sharap: Operational officers or investigative officers?
Rapoport: Do not know
Lawyer Sharap: Please tell me, did you really have a privileged position at the 5 km cemetery?
Rapoport: You can say yes
Lawyer Sharap: What was it expressed in?
Rapoport: Firstly, I worked as a senior caretaker; according to Ukrainian laws, I had the right to combine my work activities with business activities. I was in a position and was a private entrepreneur, so it was a privilege
Lawyer Sharap: You basically arrogated this privilege to yourself, do I understand correctly?
Rapoport: Why yourself? By law I had the right to combine
Lawyer Sharap: And you took advantage of your official duties, including performing entrepreneurial functions, do I understand correctly?
Rapoport: No, that's wrong
АSharap's lawyer: What then is privilege?
Rapoport: I could only carry out business activities during non-working hours, which is what I did
Judge: Defender, are you asking about the period of activity under Basov, or in general, do you remember the laws of Ukraine, other leaders, what period are you asking about?
Lawyer Sharap: I'm talking about his privilege...
Judge: You can talk about your work during this period in this case. Can you explain based on the circumstances of this case, was there a privileged position during this period, in the years 14–15?
Rapoport: No, it was all in the past
Judge: Tell me, what was your privilege, did you have any advantages?
Rapoport: Under Basov, nothing
Judge: Defender, have you received an answer to your question?
Lawyer Sharap: Yes. Witness, what did you say that you could be harmed in your privileged activities precisely under Basov, because you testified that while under Basov you had some privileges not earlier, not during the Ukrainian period?
Rapoport: I worked with the Queen, and the Queen was the head of the cemeteries, that's all and all the privileges
Lawyer Sharap: That is, the Queen helped you in carrying out your business activities, do I understand correctly?
Rapoport: No, that's not right. The Queen didn't help, I'm my own boss
Lawyer Sharap: Why then do you refer to the Queen, why the reference to the Queen?
Rapoport: slurred
Lawyer Sharap: What, what consequences, were you afraid of then, if you did not have a privileged position, your stall was illegal?
Judge: Sharap's defender, the witness, repeatedly answered the question, taking into account the fact that the Queen is the director of cemeteries, he already answered, please be more attentive. Witness, can you answer the question?
Rapoport: Well, I've already answered the questions.
Judge: Please answer again why, being in such a relationship with the Queen, you were afraid of Basov
Rapoport: The Queen is not a director, the director has more powers, more levers, there are a lot of levers, I won’t go into specifics. There were such levers, it’s all figurative, in theory, you know?
Lawyer Sharap: That is, you did not know specifically the levers of pressure on you?
Rapoport: I could guess: close the gate...
Lawyer Sharap: So, wait a second, were you somehow informed that the gates would be closed?
Rapoport: No
Lawyer Sharap: Didn’t it happen, including through the Queen?
Rapoport: including through the Queen
Lawyer Sharap: There have never been any negative consequences for you, right?
Rapoport: It wasn’t done specifically, but there was a theory
Lawyer Sharap: Theory. That is, no one expressed demands or threats to you through the Queen?
Rapoport: Why? Write it down so you don't repeat it later. A statement from Basov was conveyed to me through Koroleva that there was a command to remove everyone who was connected with the Beglyarov case, the most important fear was that I would be removed because I was connected with the Beglyarov case.
Lawyer Sharap: Tell me, please, what does “remove” mean? Will they physically eliminate you?
Rapoport: Including physically. I was attacked twice, including physically, I’ll explain again – including physically, okay?
Lawyer Sharap: No, not clear
Rapoport: Unclear? I explain again - including physically, because I received threats
Lawyer Sharap: Please tell me, did Basov make threats through the Queen about physical elimination?
Rapoport: No, about the physical - no, but they were
Lawyer Sharap: From whom?
Rapoport: Okay, threats from Basov’s friends were conveyed to me through the Queen about physical elimination.
Lawyer Sharap: I would like to draw the attention of the respected court and put on record that it is precisely extortion in the criminal sense of this concept, in the legal sense of this concept, but not extortion of a bribe that we are talking about now. What the witness is now saying is that he allegedly received extortion of infliction of physical pain, physical damage, but not of extortion of a bribe.
Judge: Defender, you are now commenting on the last question, the witness has already answered a lot, and now, please, your question for the witness
Lawyer Sharap: Of course I just...
Judge: You will give your assessments in the debate
Lawyer Sharap: I am not giving an assessment, I ask that it be entered into the protocol
Judge: Please (inaudible) I’m not stopping you, I suggest you ask questions if you still have them, if there are no questions, we’ll give you the opportunity to ask questions to another lawyer
Lawyer Sharap: I have some questions
Judge: Please ask
Lawyer Sharap: Can this be entered into the protocol?
Judge: What exactly? Already recorded, everything that is said is already recorded
Lawyer Sharap: Thank you. Tell me, please, you said what it means that you gave 400 thousand in cash, and the Queen gave 100 thousand, during what period of time were such payments made on your part?
Rapoport: At the end of every month
Lawyer Sharap: How many payments have you made through the bank?
Rapoport: Three
Lawyer Sharap: Through the banking system - three, for what amounts?
Rapoport: The first – 400, the second – I don’t remember, the third – 500
Lawyer Sharap: The third -500, don’t remember the second time?
Rappoport: I do not remember
Lawyer Sharap: Please tell me how the funds were transferred by the Queen during this period, during these three periods of time? So, first, when you made a payment for 400, then, when for 395 and then, a payment for 500, how did the Queen transfer funds during this period of time, can you explain something?
Rapoport: How did I transfer funds to the Queen?
Lawyer Sharap: You showed that you paid 400 thousand, and the Queen paid 100 thousand
Rapoport: Queen
Lawyer Sharap: Since when did the Queen pay? What do you know about this?
Rapoport: I know that from the very beginning the Queen paid 100 thousand.
Lawyer Sharap: from the very beginning the Queen paid 100 thousand?
Rapoport: Yes
Lawyer Sharap: From what period of time, what does “from the very beginning” mean?
Rapoport: Do not know
Lawyer Sharap: Well, when was it, we can say that since you made the first payment?
Rapoport: You can say
Lawyer Sharap: It's clear. How did she transfer funds to Basov? What do you know about this?
Rapoport: Personally, conveyed personally
Lawyer Sharap: personally 100 thousand? Tell me, the payment was on the 1st of September 15, why did the Queen give you 100 thousand?
Rapoport: I explain again: the Queen gave me 100 thousand, knowing that the payment was going through the bank as always, then Basov changed his mind and decided to take it in cash, so I returned the money back to the Queen
Lawyer Sharap: I don't get it
Rapoport: Let me explain again. The Queen gave me the amount so that I, as always, would transfer through the bank, then Gennady Anatolyevich changed his mind about receiving through the bank, decided to receive through the Queen, naturally, the Queen gave me this money
Lawyer Sharap: So how much did Basov still think about getting money from you?
Rapoport: What did he think, ask Basov, I don’t know
Lawyer Sharap: So what did the Queen explain about this, she communicated with you?
Rapoport: I don't remember what she explained
Lawyer Sharap: Don't remember what she explained. Why then did she give you 100 thousand?
Rapoport: Not for me, but for Basov
Lawyer Sharap: No, she gave it to you initially, for what?
Rapoport: In order for me to transfer the full amount of 500 thousand through the bank
Lawyer Sharap: 500 thousand?
Rapoport: Yes
Lawyer Sharap: It’s good that you can explain then, on the 1st, let’s say, the scheme, in your opinion, did not work, right?
Rapoport: Well
Lawyer Sharap: wait a second, on September 1, 2015, did you already know that funds were being transferred personally, on September 1?
Rapoport: no, I didn't know
Lawyer Sharap: when did you find out?
Rapoport: then, when Larisa Nikolaevna said
Lawyer Sharap: when, well, how long?
Rappoport: I don't know, I don't remember
Lawyer Sharap: Well, until the 29th of the same month?
Rapoport: I don’t keep a diary, I remember the facts, but when they...
Lawyer Sharap: Please tell me, why did she give you 29 thousand on the 100th?
Rappoport: let the Queen speak
Lawyer Sharap: Well, you didn’t ask her why you are giving me money?
Rapoport: to transfer to Basov through the bank
Lawyer Sharap: you already knew, the Queen did not give you the payment, what bank are you talking about, if on September 1 you no longer transferred through the bank, what are you talking about now?
Rapoport: I can not answer
Lawyer Sharap: Can't answer yes to this question? Please tell me, before writing a statement to the police, did you think that you were under a threat of physical harm, what did you write a statement to the police about?
Rapoport: that we are being illegally extorted money
Lawyer Sharap: in what way did you inform the police?
Rapoport: make demands
Lawyer Sharap: demands, how, what kind of demands are they - will they cut off a leg, cut off an arm, what, what will they do to you, will they not let your car into the cemetery?
Rapoport: including this
Lawyer Sharap: including that.
Rapoport: They won't let the car in
Lawyer Sharap: Will they cut off a leg, cut off an arm?
Rapoport: And here it is?
Judge: The court clarifies, the witness, turning to law enforcement agencies, that you wrote in the statement that it is illegal for you...
Rapoport: Illegally demanding
Judge: Why and for what purpose are they extorting, can you explain, without the defense lawyer asking about physical violence?
Rapoport: ok, for the possibility of preventing me from carrying out my business activities
Lawyer Sharap: the possibility of an obstacle, correct, that is, there was no real threat addressed to you until September 24, 2015?
Rapoport: no real threats were received
Lawyer Sharap: no real threats were received until August 24, September, I apologize. Please tell me, you explained about the threats, but about real cases of preventing you, your workers, so regarding this stall, were there any actions on Basov’s part?
Rapoport: payments were made, so they did not exist; if they had not been made, they would have been (inaudible)
Lawyer Sharap: why didn't you do that?
Rapoport: done
Lawyer Sharap: worked illegally and gave away the money, but why didn’t you do this, didn’t act like a law-abiding citizen?
Rapoport: I got in.
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