In connection with the riots on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, which occurred on May 6, a criminal case was opened. In search of evidence and organizers, investigators raided opposition leaders, including the well-known TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak, who was a witness in the case. As a result of the search, a passport and a large amount of money were seized, which the court, it seems, is not going to return.
On the eve of the "March of Millions", which took place on June 12, Ksenia Sobchak was searched. She is a witness in the case of riots on Bolotnaya Square, in addition, one of the main oppositionists, Ilya Yashin, permanently resides in her apartment. On the morning of June 11, 2012, investigators appeared on the threshold of her apartment and conducted a large-scale search.
As a result of a search in the safe, a large sum of money was found: more than a million euros, 480 thousand dollars and 480 thousand rubles. This money was distributed in 121 envelopes, each of which has some kind of inscription (as a rule, the amount, date and mark “Sobchak”). The fact that the money was distributed in envelopes aroused suspicion among the investigators, and they were confiscated. In addition, the investigators confiscated the socialite's passport, computers, flash cards; personal correspondence was also attached to the case.
The Investigative Committee took as the main version that the money was intended to finance the riots, so they refused to return it. Ksenia Sobchak appealed to the Basmanny Court of Moscow with a complaint about the illegal seizure of her passport and money, but since she did not disclose the origin of the income, the court ruled that the actions of the Investigative Committee were legitimate. The TV presenter said that her official income is more than two million, and she can keep this money as she wishes.
In response, a cameral tax audit of Sobchak's 2011 income statement was appointed. The TV presenter herself said that she is not afraid of inspections, since she pays taxes honestly. She has filed an application with a higher authority and is determined to defend her rights. Her lawyer Henry Reznik also believes that the investigation did not have the right to seize money in the apartment.
One way or another, today both ordinary people and representatives of the authorities are closely following the process - do investigators have the right to seize money from a witness during a search, motivating their actions by the fact that they could go to organize a rally?
