Preliminary Hearing in Child Abuse Case against Russian Priest Set for June 13

RAPSI
June 5, 2017

http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20170605/278852905.html


The Priozersk City Court in the Leningrad Region has set June 13 as a date for the preliminary hearing in the case against Russian priest Gleb Grozovsky, who stands charged with sexual abuse of children, the court’s spokesperson Svetlana Krasikova told RAPSI on Monday.

A prosecutor’s motion to extend Grozovsky’s detention will be considered on the same day, according to the court’s representative.

According to investigators, Grozovsky committed several crimes against minors in 2011 and 2013.

In 2013, he fled to Israel and applied for citizenship. However, his application was dismissed.

In April 2014, Grozovsky was put on the international wanted list. Israeli police arrested him in September. In January 2015, a court in Jerusalem ruled that the priest should be extradited to Russia pursuant to the European Convention on Extradition. The ruling was appealed but rejected. In April 2016, the Justice Minister signed an order on Grozovsky’s extradition.

In September 2016, the priest was extradited from Israel to Russia.

Defense lawyers claim that charges against Grozovsky are politically motivated.