Sergei Simonenko Remains in Custody Despite Defense Arguments

The court refused to transfer the former deputy head of the Kuban department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Sergei Simonenko to house arrest, despite the lawyer's arguments about the accused's cancer. The investigation period in the case was extended due to the complexity of the investigation.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, in January the court extended the arrest period of the former deputy head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for Krasnodar Krai Sergei Simonenko. The defense asked to transfer Simonenko to house arrest, stating that he has cancer and needs medical care.

The investigation has extended the term of the investigation of Sergei Simonenko, accused of organizing two attempted murders and three episodes of destruction of other people's property. This decision is explained by the particular complexity of the investigation and the scope of investigative actions, TASS reported today.

"The preliminary investigation period in the case has been extended until August 4, 2025. <…> The particular complexity of the investigation of the criminal case is objectively determined by the subject of proof in the case, the nature and scope of investigative and procedural actions, including those requiring significant time expenditures, aimed at establishing the circumstances subject to proof in the case. The investigators' arguments about the particular complexity of the investigation of this criminal case are justified," the agency quotes court documents.

The diagnosis falls under the list of diseases that prevent detention

According to the case materials, Simonenko's arrest has been extended along with the investigation period. Simonenko's lawyer asked the court to change the preventive measure to house arrest. "In the appeal, the defense attorney, R.V. Mishin, disagrees with the court's ruling, considers it illegal, unfounded, and adopted with significant violations of the criminal procedure law. <…> He believes that the court did not take into account Simonenko's cooperation with the investigation, the presence of a discharge summary with a diagnosis of "[oncological disease]". The diagnosis falls under the list of diseases that prevent detention," the documents say.

In addition, the defense attorney pointed out the ineffective conduct of the investigation, and also stated that the accusations against Simonenko are unfounded, the agency writes.

Recall that in March, a court in Sochi denied Sergei Simonenko's wife the unblocking of accounts that were frozen as part of the criminal case. Svetlana Simonenko asked to lift the arrest from the accounts to receive money within the subsistence minimum for each family member. The courts also refused to lift the arrest from Svetlana Simonenko's real estate.