Denis Levkin has been imprisoned since February 2013. He was detained when the police stormed the squatted warehouse near the former Varshavsky Station in St Petersburg, Russia, and charged under article 318 part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code (use of violence dangerous for health or life against an officer). St Petersburg anarchists have taken an active part in occupation and defence of the warehouse, and the St Petersburg Anarchist Black Cross cannot ignore the trial in Levkin’s case, which is now under way.
On February 4, 2013, activists with city preservationist groups have issued an open call for St Petersburg residents to come to the historical warehouse to protect it from being razed. One of those who responded to the call was Levkin, a 19-year-old scenester. We are not aware of his participation in any anarchist actions before. During the storming of the warehouse later the same month, two police officers were injured, and naturally they wanted to find a culprit. It is not clear why they chose Levkin. According to the eyewitnesses, he did not commit any active moves.
We do not know who actually injured the police, nor would we tell if we did. It is not fitting for anarchists to snitch on people and help the coppers, and shame be on those who do that. Besides, even if the person who inflicted the injuries is found, Levkin’s fate will not be made any easier. The case includes five carbon-copied statements by police officers who “saw” that Levkin inflicted the blows. Neither the prosecutor nor the court can allow to admit that they police are lying. Two people would end up in the dock in this case.
St Petersburg Anarchist Black Cross states that the authorities are committing yet another crime by trying to imprison an absolutely innocent man. The trial may end before the end of the year. Levkin faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Next court session is scheduled to 2 p.m. on November 26, at St Petersburg’s Leninskiy District Court (13-ya Krasnoarmeyskaya street, 17B).
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St Petersburg Anarchist Black Cross, November 20, 2013.
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