Strogan case: second forensic test led to release

As reported, on 12 March Yakiv Strogan was released from custody after 14 months.  The decision to release him on a signed undertaking not to leave the city was taken at the latest court hearing in the Kyivsky District Court in Kharkiv following examination of a new forensic examination which had lasted around half a year.

The results of it were passed to the court about one month ago and read out at the hearing on Monday.  The examination found that the alleged victim had suffered light bodily injuries which had not caused lasting damage to his health.

The experts were also not provided with the domestic knife (not formally recognized as a non-firearm weapon) and any medical document indicating the level of injuries. The court ordered that the experts be handed this material.

Strogan’s lawyer, Serhiy Medvedev lodged an application to have the restraint measure changed from remand in custody to a signed undertaking.  The court allowed the application on the grounds that the court examination is coming to the end and Strogan cannot influence the court proceedings.