RF ombudsman says Lebedev should be released under economic amnesty.

MOSCOW, July 28 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's Human Rights Ombudsman Mikhail
Fedotov said former MENATEP CEO Platon Lebedev, whose appeal for parole
was rejected on Wednesday, July 27, should be released under economic
amnesty.
"I think the question with regard to Lebedev should be raised not
under parole but under broad amnesty for entrepreneurs who were faced
criminal charges and were sentenced for economic crimes over the last 10
years," Fedotov said.
Russia needs modernisation, and "if we speak about liberalisation of
laws and economic life in general, it's high time we announced economic
amnesty", he said.
Fedotov noted that a draft document declaring economic amnesty to be
timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Russia's independence had
already been handed over to President Dmitry Medvedev.
"It's not a secret that many entrepreneurs faced criminal charges
under fabricated accusations as there are no injured parties in 90 percent
of economic crimes," he said.
At the same time, Fedotov said that the court ruling on Lebedev did no
surprise him because the latter had reprimands. "If there are reprimands,
this may provide the grounds for denying parole, but if the lawyers
contest them and the reprimands are lifted, Lebedev can appeal fro parole
again," he explained.
The judge of the Velsk City Court in the Arkhangelsk region, Nikolai
Raspopov, denied he had made his decision under pressure.
"This is an absolutely objective decision and [it was] made by my
conviction," the judge said.
He stressed that Lebedev had been denied parole not only because he
had failed to repent, but "for a number of reasons" and in accordance with
the law.
"The purpose of punishment has not been achieved, whereby parole would
be unadvisable," the judge said.