Russian court refuses to release Serebrennikov, Malobrodsky
Archive photo of Alexei Malobrodsky by RIA Novosti, taken at a hearing earlier this year.
A court hearing was held in Moscow today, Dec. 4, 2017, with the purpose of considering changing confinement measures for the defendants in the Kirill Serebrennikov/Seventh Studio case. Serebrennikov was hoping to be released from house arrest, as was a former colleague Yury Itin, while former managing director at Serebrennikov's Gogol Center Alexei Malobrodsky was hoping to be released from prison where he has been held since mid-year.
Approximately at 4 p.m. in the afternoon the court ruled that there was no reason to change anything. At that time Zoya Svetova, a well-known human rights activist, writing laconically on Facebook, reported the following:
Malobrodsky remains in custody Serebrennikov - no change Itin - no change.
"Is the decision clear?" Judge Gaidar asked.
Nikolai Berman, an actor, director and critic in Moscow quoted on Facebook some of the defiant words spoken by Serebrennikov and Malobrodsky during the hearing.
Serebrennikov: "We have spent years of our lives on a huge project. I'm proud of that. And why is it that you arrest me? We arrest you, because Itin testified against you. Today was a happy day for me - I learned that it is all a lie and that you were just trying to bash our heads against one another. I was happy to tell investigators everything, and not try to run. We always told you where I was. We suffer and we continue to suffer. I have aging parents. My father is recuperating after a serious operation, my mother has Alzheimer's disease, it is likely that she will not recognize me. This is torture for innocent elderly people who do not deserve this."
Malobrodsky (What follows in this graph is not direct quotes, but rather is Berman's retelling of the essence of Malobrodsky's words, which were difficult to hear because his speech was transmitted by video from hearing hall to another room where spectators sat). The investigation is based on the testimony of [Nina] Maslyaeva [a bookkeeper who turned state's evidence], in which his [Malobrodsky's] name is mentioned five times, and always in lists. Witness Sinelnikov denies having a financial relationship with Alexei Arkadevich [Malobrodsky]. All his communications were carried out with Maslyaeva. On October 16, the day before the [last] hearing, Sinelnikov's interrogation protocol suddenly appeared, and in it his testimony changed. "There are no grounds for my detention," Malobrodsky said. "The investigation has done a huge amount of work in six and a half months. It is unlikely now that it would somehow be possible to interfere with the course of the investigation. It is very important for me to protect my good name." Malobrodsky speaks about the deterioration of his health. He has pain in his shoulder joint, headaches, and abdominal pain. He has not had a single qualified consultation [with a doctor]. House arrest, he says, would also be a "redundant measure," but would at least put him on a par with the others in the case.
A second speech (or second part of the previous) by Malobrodsky - this, presented as quotes): "I have heard the text pronounced by the prosecutor many times; it probably was written with carbon paper. My defense constantly lists and discusses the evidence presented and declares there is no basis in it - the investigation, providing no proof, claims that there is. The measure against me [to be held in prison] is unfair, illegal and unreasonably cruel. I had no intention of ever hindering the trial or investigation. The very fact of my letter indicates that I never had any intention of hiding anything. The investigation contradicts itself. I had many opportunities to run, but never once did I attempt to do so. I have nothing to hide. I am interested in a thorough examination of our so-called case. The arguments of the prosecutor's office and the investigation aren't worth a bent nickel - it's all shamanic spells, the repetition of the same rote-memorized text." This was followed by applause in the hall where the public was allowed to watch a transmission of the hearing.
ADDED LATER:
Dina Goder, who attended the hearing, quotes Yury Itin as saying: "I know why we are all under arrest: so we can't hear anything about each other. But I read in the documents that, it turns out that I [supposedly] made accusations against the others. That's what I was told, too, that they were testifying against me. It's a lie, I did not slander anyone. We are kept apart so they can lie about us slandering and force us to slander others."
