Abrupt U-turn: Kohver case bounced back to Moscow

In Pskov oblast court yesterday, the initial Eston Kohver court session promptly screeched to a sudden halt. Two hours from its start at 10 am the Estonian security officer’s layer Yevgeni Aksyonov dropped to media the bombshell: the case is sent back to Moscow, along with the person of Mr Kohver.

As early as at 9 am, reporters had begun to gather at the court house. This time, they had been allowed a peak into the hall inside, and even to shoot pictures and film both Mr Kohver, the judge and the prosecutor.

Before the session started, the court press rep Julia Pron issued the final guidelines: the masked special forces may not be photographed or recorded in full view.

Calm and collected

Thus the media was ushered in and beheld Mr Kohver there already waiting. The man looked calm, perhaps a bit tired. Limiting himself with a couple of glances towards the journalists, he mainly looked aside or at the ceiling. The hall was emptyish, the silence disrupted by the cameras clicking away. Watchfully, four masked faces observed it all.

Seated on his bench, the lawyer paid no attention to media or cameras, reading a book. Half an hour earlier, he had told your correspondent that the first day of the session is procedural i.e. they’d be establishing the technical details like order of sessions. Only after that would the witnesses be invited in.

«When working fruitfully, the process might even take mere two weeks to complete,» announced an optimistic Mr Aksyonov.

«Stand, the court cometh!» sounded the command a couple of moments after the judge walked in. «The court session regarding Eston Kohver case hath begun,» declared judge Larissa Bobrova, and asked the journalists to exit.

Delay game continues

In just two hours, however, the session ended. Appearing before media, Mr Aksyonov let us know the case is being sent back to Moscow whither Mr Kohver also will be taken in near future.

«I will not be commenting on the basis for such decision by the court, but the case is being sent back to Moscow for complementary investigation procedures, and only after that it will come back to the court in Pskov,» he said.

At that, the arrest of Mr Kohver was prolonged till August 8^th, meaning the process may drag on for two more months.

Such was the official court verdict: «By Pskov oblast court the case is being sent back to Russian prosecutor-general for the liquidation of infringements which hinder essential review of the matter.»

Meanwhile, the court press representative Julia Pron claimed that the decision regarding Mr Kohver personally being sent back was not taken as yet. Thus, the security police official may have to sit in Pskov till Moscow does its thing. Anyway, the sessions will not continue before August.

A few days before the process begun, your correspondent was told by Alexei Malov, a journalist at the local Pskovskaya Guberniya newspaper and deputy at regional council, that Russia is not interested in speedy conclusion of the Kohver-case and may use delay tactics till the West has not amended its attitude towards sanctions against Russia.   

Consul denied access to session

The court decision yesterday probably postponed meeting of Mr Kohver with Estonian consul. The latter wasn’t even able to attend the session yesterday, as it was proclaimed in camera (closed). The meeting (only two are allowed monthly) was due this week.

«The last time the consul met Mr Kohver was on May 29^th and assured him that the Estonian authorities are doing everything to achieve his release and return back home,» stated the press department of Estonian foreign ministry.

The layer confirmed the facts. «In Pskov, the consul has not met with Mr Kohver as yet, the meeting is likely in Moscow,» said Mr Aksyonov and went on to specify that, in addition to meeting the consul, his client is entitled to calling relatives on the phone and regarding that the application had already been submitted. What the lawyer failed to relate was whether a call has happened as a result of the application.