Andrey Yakunin’s drone is beyond suspicion
An appeals court in Norway upheld a not guilty verdict in which the lower court found no wrongdoing in the launch Andrey Yakunin drones in the Svalbard archipelago. So the son of the former head of Russian Railways is again innocent.
December the court’s decision in the city of Tromsø, which fully acquitted Andrey Yakunin on charges of violating sanctions, was nevertheless challenged by the Norwegian prosecutor’s office. However, according to our publication, on February 2, the decision of the Halogaland court composed of three judges was unanimous, as was the decision of the court of first instance. The prosecutor’s office refused.
Andrey Yakunin, the eldest son of the ex-head of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunindetained on October 17 along with acquaintances on suspicion of violating sanctions – he launched drones in the Svalbard archipelagowhich is a territory of Norway. The legislation of this country prohibits Russians from flying aircraft. The defense put pressure on the fact that Yakunin used the most primitive drone – actually a cameraand not by aircraft. Moreover, for safety in sports tourism (Yakunin, indeed, “sick” extreme travel). In addition, Yakunin’s lawyers appealed to his British citizenship and the special legal status of Svalbard.
Last time, after winning the court, Yakunin’s lawyer noted to Fontanka: “This is a precedent court decision, it actually made it possible to clarify certain provisions of the Norwegian sanctions legislation. And at the same time – common sense, which rarely coincides in modern jurisprudence, not to mention the modern world. Today he is also a senior partner at the Pen & Paper Bar Association. Anton Imenov declined to comment.
On October 22, Norwegian police detained two Russians suspected of photographing military installations. They were charged with illegal photography. Detained like found out the edition of NRKwere a man and a woman in their 30s. The police detained them in the village of Björkvik, near which there is a military base and a military training camp Elvegardsmoen.
Formerly Norwegian Police freed four Russians who were suspected of photographing strategic facilities. For suspects who arrested October 17, did not find photographs of objects to be verified. Norwegian law enforcers believe that the arrested Russians turned out to be ordinary tourists. However, the case, as noted, has not been closed; the Norwegian Security Service (PST) will be investigating it further.
Before that, two more Russians with drones were arrested. On October 19, Andrey, the son of the ex-head of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin, was detained. Yakunin’s defense insisted that, due to British citizenship, sanctions could not apply to him, and the drone with which he was detained does not belong to the category of aircraft, the use of which is prohibited to Russians in Norway. At the end of October, he was released from custody.
