FULL ACGITTAL OF THE CLIENT OF LINNIKOV & PARTNERS

On 17.05.2017 one of regional courts in Central Russia voiced an unprecedented acquittal decree in a highly complicated and widely publicized case against an individual accused of aggravated abuse of powers. The defendant was represented by the attorneys of Linnikov & Partners. Complete acquittal is very rare in the practice of Russian courts. While non-guilty verdicts delivered at jury trials are not unheard of, acquittal of a defendant by the professional court is a truly extraordinary event, which emphasized outstanding professionalism of the defense team and reinforces our belief in law and inevitable triumph of justice.

After spending considerable time under arrest, in 2016 the defendant was convicted to a significant term of imprisonment by the court of first instance. When the L&P defenders took over the case, the conviction was reversed by the court of appeals, defendant released from custody and the case returned to the court of first instance for a new hearing. The new intense and highly competitive trial unraveled under close public scrutiny. The second hearing took over three months. The court examined the existing and additional proof. Illegally obtained evidence against the defendant was declared inadmissible by the court. Some of the witnesses interrogated by the court changes their testimony in favor of the defense. The heated legal battled ended with the decisive victory of the defense team lead by Alexander Linnikov. The defendant was declared not guilty and fully acquitted due to the fact that his actions constituted no criminal offence.

Besides the acquittal decree, the court has issued a special decree in regard to the investigator who has allowed multiple significant violations of the law which lead to an illegal indictment and wrongful conviction of the L&P client.

The Law and Justice have prevailed: the defendant left the courtroom fully acquitted, his civil rights reinstated, property released from under arrest.