In Sochi, prosecutor returns journalist Yarst's case for additional investigation

Sergey Plakhotnyuk, the Public Prosecutor of the Tsentralny District of Sochi has refused to approve the indictment against the journalist Nikolai Yarst, accused of drug trafficking and possession, and returned the case for further investigation, said the lawyer Marina Dubrovina.

"We learned about the return of the case from employees of the police department of the Tsentralny District. We haven't seen yet Mr Plakhotnyuk's decision; but they are obliged to inform us about it," the defender of Nikolai Yarst told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Nikolai Yarst, a journalist of the Russian Public Television, was detained in Sochi on May23. According to investigators, UVD (Interior Department) agents found in the car with Yarst and his colleague a bag with drugs. Yarst rejects the charges of drugs possession and associates the pursuit with his professional activities.

So far, Marina Dubrovina is unaware of the specific claims set by the prosecutor to the case in his decision. "One can only assume that he has pointed out the investigators' mistakes that need to be addressed," she said.

She also added that since the term of Yarst's home arrest expires on August 8, the investigation will soon revert to the court asking to extend his freedom restraint measure. The defence of the journalists, in its turn, will apply to change home arrest for bail or recognizance not to leave.