Safronov's defense lawyers ask Moscow City Court to return his case to prosecutors

MOSCOW. March 21 (Interfax) - The defense lawyers for journalist Ivan Safronov, who is charged with high treason, have asked the Moscow City Court to return his criminal case to the prosecutors, his lawyer Dmitry Talantov said.

"We have filed a motion for the criminal case to be returned to the prosecutors," Talantov told reporters.

The Moscow City Court held a preliminary hearing of Safronov's case on Monday.

Talantov said the defense lawyers insist that Safronov's case cannot be tried in court on its merits as the indictment against the journalist has irresolvable contradictions and the investigation was conducted with massive violations.

"Both charges filed against Ivan Safronov do not meet any of the requirements related to the charges," the lawyer said.

Talantov also said the defense lawyers have filed a motion to remove some evidence "on the motive of their unacceptability and irrelevance" from the case materials.

The state prosecutor, for his part, asked the court to decline the defense lawyers' motions and filed a motion to prolong Safronov's arrest by six months, Talantov said.

The court will provide its decision on the motions at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday.

Safronov, who still occupies the post of advisor on information policy to Roscosmos's CEO, was detained on July 7, 2020, and a court ruled he be taken into custody shortly afterwards. He has been charged with high treason.