MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
By Emily Gurnon
egurnon@pioneerpress.comtwincities.com
Posted: 04/02/2013
Kirill Bartashevitch, the St. Paul man who allegedly pointed an AK-47 at his 15-year-old daughter in a dispute over her getting B’s instead of A’s in school, is a highly respected Russian Orthodox priest who should be treated with leniency.
That’s the message from at least 20 supporters throughout the world, including people in Russia, Canada, New York and Ohio, who wrote to Judge Lezlie Ott Marek on his behalf.
The writers describe Bartashevitch as a deeply religious man who expresses great care and compassion for others, helping them grow in the faith. Some said they did not believe reports of the charges.
Bartashevitch appeared in Ramsey County District Court Tuesday, April 2, initially asking for another continuance in his case so that he could deal with potential “immigration consequences that are quite significant,” said his attorney, Cullin Smith. Smith did not elaborate. Bartashevitch then changed his mind. Judge Joy Bartscher set a pretrial date of May 1.
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