A fitness coach in Russia’s fourth-largest city has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for pedophilia in a case that has drawn controversy due to security footage that critics say absolves the suspect.
A 20-minute surveillance video showed Alexei Sushko filling out paperwork on a couch in his gym while a 7-year-old girl is seen sitting on the opposite side of the couch. Yekaterinburg-based media reported that her stepfather stormed into the gym later that evening in November 2017, saying the girl claimed that a man had fondled himself and showed her his private parts.
A Yekaterinburg court convicted Sushko for pedophilia and sentenced him to eight years in a maximum-security prison, the local edition of the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid reported Thursday.
“This is lawful lawlessness,” his wife was quoted as saying in court after the hearing, while Sushko himself vowed to appeal the sentence.
The controversial incident has drawn the attention of ex-Yekaterinburg mayor Yevgeny Roizman, who in March criticized the trial as “savagery.”
“I was struck that the judge refused to watch the video,” he was quoted as saying by the e1.ru news website. “It shows that he didn’t even pay attention to the girl, he didn’t even reflect on who was sitting next to him.”
Prosecutors, who sought a sentence of 12.5 years, reportedly argued that the coach’s “manspreading” pose and a clipboard over his crotch hid his alleged act of masturbation. Investigators claimed the act was proven by the fact that Sushko later grabbed his cellphone with two fingers.
The convicted coach and his wife allege he was framed by his competitors.
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.
