Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon, who has led a number of investigations into prominent Russians, could soon be charged with abuse of power for a probe into Spanish civil war atrocities, following a Supreme Court ruling Thursday.
A five-judge panel ruled that Garzon could be charged for knowingly overstepping the bounds of his jurisdiction by investigating the atrocities in 2008. A judge investigating the case said Garzon ignored a 1977 amnesty decreed by Spanish lawmakers.
And while Garzon is best known for high-profile indictments of Osama bin Laden and Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, he has also made a name for himself as a crusader against the Russian mafia.
In June 2008, Garzon ordered raids to break up operations of the Tambov and Malyshev organized crime groups, arresting 20 people and seizing millions of dollars in cash, cars and property.
Among those detained were suspected ringleaders Gennady Petrov and Alexander Malyshev, who lent his name to St. Petersburg-based Malyshev crime group, Spanish police said at the time.
Later that year, Garzon sought to extradite State Duma Deputy Vladislav Reznik for purported links to organized crime. Reznik denied wrongdoing and has immunity from prosecution as a deputy.
State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov blasted the Spanish legal system after the Reznik allegations in 2008 for “using the old broken record about the so-called Russian mafia” to target the country’s politicians and businessmen.
If Garzon is convicted of knowingly acting without jurisdiction, he could be suspended from the bench for 10 to 20 years. His lawyer, Gonzalo Martinez-Fresneda, has said that would effectively end the judge’s career.
Garzon’s aborted probe centered on the killings of tens of thousands of civilians by supporters of General Francisco Franco. (AP, MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.