“Russian Bloc” released a transcript from the trial of Basov
“Russian Bloc” published a transcript from the trial of the organization’s leader Gennady Basov, who has been behind bars for 11 months without proven guilt. Let us remind you that Basov is accused of taking a bribe. His defense insists that the politician became a victim of a “set-up” after he tried to destroy the corruption schemes that had developed in the cemeteries of Sevastopol during the times of Ukraine.
“Everything that happens around the criminal trial against G.A. Basov is shocking. This process is also being watched by our enemies in Ukraine, who today are gloating and rejoicing. and they claim that this is only possible in a country of fools and legal chaos,” the RB statement says.
As the authors explain, the entire accusation against Basov is based on the testimony of two witnesses. This is businessman Rapoport, who has never communicated with Basov himself. And the intermediary Koroleva, who came to Rapoport, said that she was acting on Basov’s instructions, and she needed to pay 500 thousand in bribes to continue the work of the order collection point illegally installed next to the cemetery.
“How or who is this confirmed? Did Basov even say that? Did Basov know that someone was even trying to deliver money to him? Law enforcement officials do not need answers to these questions - they have already accused the person of a serious crime and ruined his life. Entrepreneur applicant Rappoport still does not know (only from words) who he paid, for what, and why he gave his money, and he does not even call this a bribe. It turns out to be some kind of absurdity,” the “Russian Bloc” is outraged.
Basov's associates provide a transcript of the court hearing, where the accused asks questions to Rapoport.
Basov: In her testimony, Koroleva says she came to you, handed over bills, and said Basov told her to pay them. Is that true, or is Koroleva lying? Or did she say something else? Or did she offer any money?
Rapoport: Absolutely not. Everything was clear and precise. The Queen came, brought the money, spoke, and called that same day to find out if the funds had been transferred.
Basov: Evgeny Alexandrovich, in her testimony, Koroleva says they paid me so I wouldn't report the illegal construction to the prosecutor's office near the cemetery. Is that true, or is Koroleva lying, and you paid for something else?
Rapoport: No, I didn't pay for anything else. But the thing is, that's how it was. You did file a complaint with the prosecutor's office, right?
Basov: Further. In her testimony, Koroleva says you set the amount at 400. Is that correct?
Rapoport: No, you established that.
Basov: So she came up and said...
Rapoport (interrupting Basov): No, she came up and said that you set the amount at 400 thousand.
Basov: Further. Considering that they paid 400, and then 500 rubles for this illegal two-square-meter structure…
Rapoport (interrupting Basov): Not for illegal construction, but for the opportunity to carry out one’s activities…
Basov: Wait, "implement"—what's that? Maybe you were supposed to have coffee brought to you in the mornings or something? Koroleva testified that you paid for the building. Then tell me, what exactly were you paying for?
Rapoport: And for the building as well. It's all a combination.
Basov: In the complex?
Rapoport: Of course.
Basov: For what else then, besides the structure?
Rapoport: I repeat once again: for the right to carry out one’s activities as an individual entrepreneur.
Basov: How do I grant you the right to engage in or not engage in entrepreneurial activity?
Rapoport: Well, first of all, the illegal building was a collection point. Naturally, if orders stop coming from a collection point, that's a very important point. You could put it this way.
Basov: Still, you say that Koroleva...
Rapoport (interrupting Basov): I’m saying that it could be…
Basov: Maybe... that is, Koroleva wasn’t lying when she said that you paid for the building.
Rapoport: Koroleva doesn’t lie at all, Koroleva is an honest person.
Basov: An honest man... But Koroleva says in her testimony that you paid for the building.
Rapoport: Including that.
Basov: Including... For what else?
Rapoport: I repeat once again. For the right to conduct business on cemetery grounds.
Basov: Didn't you think that 500 thousand rubles for an illegal building was too much?
Rapoport: I actually thought the amount was very large. It didn't just seem that way; I can say it was too large.
Basov: Next question. Tell me, if you thought the amount was too high, why didn't you come to me and ask: what are you paying for? And why are you paying?
Rapoport: How would I approach you if you told Koroleva that you would neither meet nor talk with Rapoport?
Basov: Did Koroleva tell you this?
Rapoport: Koroleva said this.
Basov: I see. Next question. We mentioned that Koroleva told you she handed me money each time. Was it me specifically, or what did she say? Did she transfer the money, or did she hand it over to Basov? What did she say? How did she tell you?
Rapoport: No, Koroleva didn't say anything. I made a cash payment, and she called and said, "You're asking: did I transfer the money or not?" When I did, I reported to Koroleva that I had transferred the money, and she reported to you.
Basov: She reported to me that...
Rapoport (interrupting Basov): …that the payment has been made.
Basov: Then tell me, please, did Koroleva inform you that I received this money? Is that correct? I repeat.
Rapoport: She informed me that she reported to you about the transfer of funds.
Basov: And when you transferred the funds, did the name Basov come up?
Rapoport: I don't remember. I didn't delve into that document.
Basov: Next question: When you paid these bills, who were the payers on those bills?
Rapoport: Rapoport Evgeniy Aleksandrovich.
Basov: Was it written "Rapoport"? Koroleva brought the payment, and was it written "Rapoport"?
Rapoport: There was nothing written there. I brought my passport; they ask for it at the ticket office, if you know what I mean. I gave it to them, and there it was.
Basov: So you went to the cashier's office, handed over your receipt and passport, and said, "I'll pay." So you designated yourself as the payer? Is that correct?
Rapoport: Well, right, but what else.
Basov: Okay. Next question. Do you think Koroleva could have used your funds to pay her bills?
Rapoport: No. I couldn't.
Basov: Why?
Rapoport: Because I've known this person for a very long time and I know she's an honest and decent person. She simply couldn't have acted like that. I know 100% what the payments were used for, who received them, and who they were intended for. Koroleva is just as much a victim.
Basov: So you speak with such confidence...
Rapoport (interrupting Basov): I speak with confidence.
Basov: That she couldn’t.
Rapoport (interrupting Basov): Under no circumstances.
Basov: From this we can conclude that you were unaware that Koroleva was taking money from me and then paying with yours? Right?
Rapoport: Impossible.
Basov: Well, if she couldn’t…
Rapoport (interrupting Basov): This is already nonsense.
Basov: Next question. One of the phone recordings says, and I'll quote, "Zhenya said that he'd write whatever the cops told him to." What was meant by that? Can you explain it somehow?
Rapoport: No, I can’t.
Basov: You can't. Then please tell me, who told you to file a complaint with law enforcement?
Rapoport: Conscience.
Basov: Conscience?
Rapoport: Yes.
Basov: Did police officers Tsalyuk, Khlebnikov, and Lyubimov tell you that you needed to file a complaint with law enforcement?
Rapoport: No, they didn’t.
Basov: You didn't say? You decided it yourself?
Rapoport: I decided it myself.
Basov: Tell me, here's the situation. I'll even take one example. The director of a charitable foundation claims he didn't inform me that any money was coming from you. Naturally, I could have found out from Koroleva. How do you think you and Koroleva learned from the foundation director that I received the money?
Judge: Do you understand the question?
Rapoport: I understand the question.
Judge: Which director are we talking about?
Rapoport: I have no idea.
Basov: Yes, he understands.
Judge: Let's make it clear to everyone involved. Are you referring to Kretov? The Mercy Foundation?
Basov: Kretova. Yes.
Judge: Please, is the question clear?
Rapoport: I... They gave me a payment order, I paid. Then Basov demanded a report from Larisa Nikolaevna: whether I transferred the money or not. I reported that I did. What happened next... whatever happened next, I didn't follow up.
Basov: You understand, you give, figuratively speaking, a bribe and don’t even control…
Rapoport (interrupting Basov): I didn’t give a bribe.
Basov: What was that?
Rapoport: It’s… how can I put it…
Basov: Gratitude?
Rapoport: No, not even gratitude...
Judge: Defendant and witness, you are now moving into the realm of qualification, please, based on the circumstances of the case. Ask your question again, and you answer the question. You don't consider this a bribe. Now, next question.
Basov: I'll turn the next question over to the lawyers. I'll ask more questions at the end.
Judge: Please, defendant. Which of the defense attorneys? Attorney Baldyga.
Lawyer Baldyga: Evgeny Aleksandrovich, tell me, how long have you been working in this type of business?
Rapoport: In general, I’ve been working for 30 years.
Lawyer Baldyga: Thirty?
Rapoport: Thirty.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, where is your office located?
Rapoport: There is no office as such.
Lawyer Baldyga: There's no office as such. Tell me, where do you accept orders?
Rapoport: In the kiosk that stood at the entrance.
Attorney Baldyga: Tell me, how legitimate is your kiosk? And describe it.
Rapoport: Metal construction.
Attorney Baldyga: Tell me, what is the cost of this metal structure? Did you purchase it yourself?
Rapoport: Acquired.
Lawyer Baldyga: For what amount?
Rapoport: 12 thousand hryvnia.
Attorney Baldyga: Tell me, in what territory is this structure located? What is its geographic location?
Rapoport: This structure is located right on the threshold of what is considered the State Unitary Enterprise.
Lawyer Baldyga: Where? Is it located on cemetery grounds?
Rapoport: Well, in front of the cemetery.
Lawyer Baldyga: In front of the cemetery. Whose territory is this? Whose land?
Rapoport: I don’t know.
Lawyer Baldyga: You don't know. Who gave permission for the installation of this object?
Rapoport: I don’t remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Do you have such permission?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: You don’t remember or no one gave permission?
Rapoport: I don’t remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Did you apply anywhere for permission?
Rapoport: I don’t remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, please, are you feeling well?
Rapoport: After the hospital, not so much.
Lawyer Baldyga: After the hospital. What diagnosis did you have when you were in the hospital?
Rapoport: Acute poisoning.
Lawyer Baldyga: So it doesn’t affect memory?
Rapoport: Well, why? Age affects memory.
Attorney Baldyga: Age. Tell me, please, did you say that Koroleva told you that Basov had given instructions that no one involved in the Beglyarov case should work on the cemetery grounds?
Rapoport: That is exactly it.
Attorney Baldyga: Exactly. Please list the individuals involved in the Beglyarov case.
Rapoport: Rapoport, Pisarenko, Pykin, Pykina.
Lawyer Baldyga: Four people.
Rapoport: Well, I’m speaking from memory…
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, were any of these people fired by Basov?
Rapoport: No.
Attorney Baldyga: Please tell me, have any of these individuals suffered any legal harm during Basov's tenure in terms of business, employment, income, and so on?
Rapoport: They paid, that’s why we didn’t suffer.
Lawyer Baldyga: Who of these four people paid?
Rapoport: I paid, Koroleva, Pisarenko.
Lawyer Baldyga: You paid, Koroleva paid?
Rapoport: Yes, and Pisarenko.
Lawyer Baldyga: And did Pisarenko pay?
Rapoport: Yes.
Boldyr's lawyer: And Koroleva paid too?
Rapoport: Well. Didn't pay
Lawyer Baldyga: So Koroleva paid too? You just said, "Koroleva paid too."
Rapoport: I paid, Pisarenko paid.
Lawyer Baldyga: Did Koroleva pay or not?
Rapoport: She gave me money. To be given to Basov. I already said so.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, please, why didn’t Pykin pay then, and why didn’t Pykin, who were also involved in the Beglyarov case?
Rapoport: This is a question for Pykin.
Attorney Baldyga: Please tell me, then, in what connection did you pay? According to you, Pisarenko paid, and Koroleva, who was also involved, paid. In what connection did you, Pisarenko, and Koroleva pay?
Rapoport: Let's check off the boxes to see how many times I answer this question. For the right to operate on the territory of the Balaklava Highway Cemetery.
Attorney Baldyga: This leads to my second question. Tell me, is Pykin currently conducting business on the cemetery grounds at Balaklavskoye Highway?
Rapoport: It does.
Lawyer Baldyga: He does. He does it without any obstacles?
Rapoport: Without hindrance.
Attorney Baldyga: Unhindered. What prevented you from operating unhindered without paying any money?
Rapoport: I will not answer.
Lawyer Baldyga: You are obliged to answer.
Judge: Defense attorney! Witness, you are obliged to answer.
Rapoport: I signed...
Judge: You have the right not to answer for yourself and your close family members. Moreover, you've already answered. What was stopping you, why did you agree to pay? Tell the defense attorney again.
Rapoport: Because they could have interfered with my work. The first thing that happened was a letter was written to the prosecutor's office asking for the kiosk to be closed. First. That happened. Second, they could have closed the gates and prevented the materials I ordered from entering the cemetery grounds. Second. They could have written to the regulatory authorities about the substandard quality of the products. Anything was possible.
Attorney Baldyga: Please tell me, is filing a letter to the prosecutor's office, as the body that oversees compliance with the law and the rights of citizens, legal or illegal?
Rapoport: It is legal.
Lawyer Baldyga: Legal. So you were concerned about Basov taking legal action to correct some violations of the law?
Rapoport: But at the same time, Basov illegally took payments...
Lawyer Baldyga: Yes, but...
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): Yes
Lawyer Baldyga: Were you afraid of legal actions on the part of Basov?
Rapoport: (long silence and reflection by the witness) Then a counter question...
Lawyer Baldyga: You have no right to ask questions, you have the right to answer…
Judge: Defense attorney Baldyga, calm down, don't put pressure on the witness. Witness, do you understand the question?
Rapoport: Understood.
Judge: Tell me, were you afraid of these letters?
Rapoport: Yes, I was afraid.
Judge: To the defense attorney's question: yes or no. In your opinion, was it legal?
Rapoport: Well, yes... vaguely
Judge: The court asks a clarifying question: were the other demands and actions that you feared legal?
Rapoport: I think they are illegal.
Lawyer Baldyga: What actions are you talking about?
Rapoport: What about action? Prevent any material from entering the cemetery.
Attorney Baldyga: Your concerns, and we're the immediate mechanism for realizing them. How could Basov have prevented materials from being brought into the cemetery? Is the cemetery his property?
Rapoport: Well, how... This is the territory of the SSPD cemetery, where Director Basov is.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, was there a guard at the cemetery gate who reported specifically to Basov?
Rapoport: Not to Basov, but to the head of the cemetery.
Lawyer Baldyga: And who is the cemetery manager? Please state her name.
Rapoport: Koroleva Larisa Nikolaevna.
Baldyga's lawyer: Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva. How could a security guard who reports to Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva have prevented your car from entering?
Rapoport: If there was a director’s command, then, of course, I could.
Lawyer Baldyga: So, according to you, Koroleva also paid Basov.
Rapoport: Paid.
Lawyer Baldyga: Well, where's the logic? Can you explain?
Rapoport: Well, again, this is a theory...
Lawyer Baldyga: Koroleva won't let you in?
Rapoport: This is a theory, I’ll explain it again.
Attorney Baldyga: What exactly were you afraid of? Let me tell you again.
Judge: The court dismisses this question. The witness has repeatedly explained what he feared. Next question, please.
Attorney Baldyga: Your Honor, I don’t understand what the witness was afraid of…
Judge: This concerns the evaluation of his testimony. The court overrules this question. Please proceed to the next one.
Attorney Baldyga: Your Honor, the defense is concerned about this issue: these are the actions that led to the bribery. I'm trying to...
Judge: The court is warning you that you are disobeying the presiding judge in this criminal case. If you fail to comply again, I will be forced to report you to the bar association. Please, what other questions do you have?
Attorney Baldyga: Your Honor, my questions concern precisely those concerns, those fears, for which the money was transferred. This is precisely the objective aspect of the crime Basov is accused of. That is precisely why I am now trying to determine the objective aspect, Your Honor—what the extortion consisted of.
Judge: Ask your questions to the witness.
Attorney Baldyga: Thank you, I'll ask the witness a few questions with your permission. Could you please tell me what you feared and what the consequences of extortion were? Extortion is a person's fear of not handing over money. Not in terms of legal actions, but other ones?
Rapoport: You know, I want to say this: the consequences, then, are that I was attacked twice. The attacks were related to my professional activities. I might be afraid of that too. If you don't understand, I'm explaining to you for the thirty-fifth time that I was attacked. And it was related to my work. And I wasn't sure Basov wouldn't come to the same conclusion. The fact that I received threats over the phone. I was told I wouldn't live to see the New Year. What else can I tell you?
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, what does Basov have to do with your attacks?
Rapoport: Let me explain that my attacks are related to my activities. Under Mr. Basov, I continued to carry out my activities. And I wasn't sure that I wouldn't be attacked again. That's one of them. The building you mentioned, the attack, everything else, and the closed gates in the complex are related to this. In the complex.
Lawyer Baldyga: And before Basov took up his position at GUPS, did you pay money?
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: To whom?
Rapoport: To Beglyarov.
Lawyer Baldyga: And before Beglyarov came, did they pay money?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: During what period of time did the attacks on you occur?
Rapoport: The first was in April '14, the third in March '15.
Lawyer Baldyga: Who was the director?
Rapoport: The first time – Kuzin, the second time – Beglyarov.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me how many entrepreneurs work on the cemetery grounds?
Rapoport: I can't say for sure.
Lawyer Baldyga: Approximately.
Rapoport: More than twenty.
Lawyer Baldyga: More than twenty. Tell me, why, out of the twenty entrepreneurs you said, did Koroleva only demand payment from two? Not even two, but you…
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): Koroleva presented Basov's demands to us, not her own. Basov demanded them from us. Basov!
Lawyer Baldyga: Basov. Basov demanded payment from you specifically, but why didn't the other nineteen entrepreneurs pay? Did they continue their business?
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): You have to start somewhere. Start with us, and then move on to the others... Who knows? I don't know. I can't answer that.
Judge: A clarifying question for you, witness, tell me, do you know whether the other individual entrepreneurs paid for any services or non-services?
Rapoport: Well, I don’t know...
Judge: Then why do you answer the question like that, without knowing the circumstances...
Rapoport (interrupting the judge): And he asks: why from us, and not from them...
Judge: You know, others paid...
Rapoport (interrupting the judge): No, it is not known.
Judge: Please, defense attorney, next question.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, were you a witness and do you know for sure that the money you gave to Koroleva was given to Basov?
Rapoport: I know that the money was transferred to Basov.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, when and in connection with what, why do you know this, what did you witness?
Rapoport: I was not a witness to this, but again, I repeat that I trust Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva as I trust myself.
Lawyer Baldyga: So you know this from Koroleva’s words?
Rapoport: I know this from the words of Koroleva.
Attorney Baldyga: Please tell me, you said Koroleva explained to you the entire mechanism for transferring funds to Basov. In what context did she tell you about this?
Rapoport: Because I have a trusting relationship with Koroleva. I've known her for a long time. She's, as they say, our... I handed over the money, and she reported to me.
Attorney Baldyga: Please tell me, you said that all persons involved in the Beglyarov case should be removed from the cemetery grounds, including Koroleva, who, as you said, was also involved in Beglyarov's case. However, after some time, Koroleva is no longer subject to, so to speak, tribute from Basov, and she becomes his trusted person, supposedly tasked with collecting money from you. What's the reason for this? One moment he wants to remove her, and the next he appoints her, so to speak, as his right-hand woman for collecting money?
Rapoport: Well, uh...
Lawyer Baldyga: Didn't this arouse any suspicions in you?
Rapoport: So, it was an element of fear, as a lever of pressure….
Lawyer Baldyga: Against whom?
Rapoport: On Koroleva and me
Lawyer Baldyga: Against whom?
Rapoport: To Koroleva: I won't get rid of you, but you pay me. That's all.
Lawyer Baldyga: So you agreed...
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): I think so.
Lawyer Baldyga: Why was cash transferred in one case, and non-cash funds in the other?
Rapoport: The question is not for me.
Lawyer Baldyga: Who determined these conditions?
Rapoport: Basov Gennady Anatolyevich.
Lawyer Baldyga: Did he bring them to your attention personally?
Rapoport: No. Through Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva.
Lawyer Baldyga: So Koroleva brought them to you?
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me what details the money transfer receipts contained, and what they were used to pay for...
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): I didn’t look into it.
Lawyer Baldyga: Have you read them?
Rapoport: I haven’t read it.
Attorney Baldyga: You didn't read it. So, you paid every receipt Koroleva gave you.
Rapoport: Yes.
Attorney Baldyga: Please tell us, did you inform the court that as soon as Koroleva presented you with a demand for a monthly payment of 400 thousand rubles to Basov, you contacted law enforcement agencies in connection with this.
Rapoport: Yes.
Attorney Baldyga: When was this? Who exactly did you contact? What documents were prepared regarding this?
Rapoport: I don't remember when it was. I wrote a statement.
Lawyer Baldyga: I wrote a statement. Where was it?
Rapoport: At Pushkin, 10.
Lawyer Baldyga: At 10 Pushkin Street. Was that the duty station or were you going up…
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): No, I went up to the office.
Lawyer Baldyga: To the office. Who did you file the complaint with?
Rapoport: I don’t remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: I don't remember. Were you allowed onto the floors at 10 Pushkin Street without any problems? Or did you mention someone's name?
Rapoport: No. I don’t remember.
Lawyer Baldyga: You don’t remember what?
Rapoport: I don’t remember how it all happened.
Lawyer Baldyga: You don’t remember how it all happened.
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: Did you call anyone before this?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: We didn't call each other. There's a duty station and security guards at the entrance to Pushkin Street 10. What did you tell the guards?
Rapoport: I don’t remember.
Attorney Baldyga: Your Honor, I ask that you read out case sheet 79, case volume 1. This is the statement of citizen Rapoport.
Judge: Just a moment, defense counsel. Those of you gathered here, those in the courtroom, if you find it funny, you may laugh outside the courtroom. Do not disturb the participants as they consider this complex case. I am warning you again. If there is anything that makes you laugh, I will be forced to remove you from the courtroom. Please, sit and listen and observe what is happening. Nothing more. You have no authority. Is that clear? Please, defense counsel, what did you want?
Attorney Baldyga: I ask that case sheet 79, volume 1, be read out. This is the statement of citizen Rapoport.
Judge: For what purpose?
Attorney Baldyga: Your Honor, for the statement to be…
Judge (interrupting the lawyer): The witness said he wrote a statement. If there are any contradictions…
Attorney Baldyga: Absolutely correct. Yes, Your Honor. It was filed on September 25th, this statement. Therefore, the defense has a logical question: in September, judging by the charges…
Judge (interrupting the lawyer): You may ask: was it in September or in July or in June?
Lawyer Baldyga: He said as soon as the demand was received, but judging by the charges, we didn't receive the demand in September. When was that?
Rapoport: I don't remember. If every step was specific, like going there... I don't remember that. They gave me money, they handed me over money...
Lawyer Baldyga: But Basov was already arrested in September. How many payments did you make to Basov? Could you have made five payments in four, or, okay, five days: from the 25th to the 29th?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Baldyga: They couldn't. Then how can you explain that?
Judge: The court has a clarifying question: you said that as soon as you were presented with the first demand – was it in the summer, in the fall?
Rapoport: In the summer.
Judge: You immediately went...
Rapoport (interrupting the judge): At least in the summer... that's in September
Judge: Could you have filed your application before September?
Rapoport: If it was written on September 25th…
Judge: Is the date indicated in the statement, which was the day it was written?
Rapoport: Well... it's unclear.
Judge: Why did you say….
Rapoport (interrupting the judge): Because I don't remember. It was a head injury. That's not the point, not when I wrote what. The point is that they were transmitted...
Judge (interrupting the witness): Witness, we'll sort that out. Your job is to answer the questions. Please.
Attorney Baldyga: Please tell me, the application states 500 rubles per month. In your testimony, you stated 400 rubles. So, how much did you pay?
Rapoport: 500. 400 plus the 100 given by Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva. Total – 500.
Lawyer Baldyga: When did you learn that Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva was paying 100 thousand rubles?
Rapoport: Right away.
Lawyer Baldyga: Right away. Right away, in June? In June?
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: And Larisa Nikolaevna paid 100 thousand monthly?
Rapoport: Yes.
Lawyer Baldyga: Tell me, did you have the physical opportunity to meet with Basov?
Rapoport: Naturally, there was.
Lawyer Baldyga: Why didn't you take advantage of this opportunity to find out...
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): I'll answer for the twenty-fifth time: Basov refused to meet with me. He said I wouldn't meet or talk with Rapoport.
Attorney Baldyga: Excellent. And how do you know this? Basov…
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): From Larisa Nikolaevna Koroleva.
Lawyer Baldyga: So, Koroleva forbade you from meeting with Basov? She said Basov wouldn't meet with you? Am I correct?
Rapoport: Basov conveyed through Koroleva that he would not meet with me, and it was not Koroleva who forbade it.
Lawyer Baldyga: Please tell me, this is the last question: how much money do you pay monthly in taxes to the budget, as an individual entrepreneur?
Rapoport: Well... it doesn't matter
Lawyer Baldyga: For thirty years, I think...
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): I haven't been working here for thirty years. I've been working at the company for thirty years.
Lawyer Baldyga: Okay, how much was paid in taxes last year?
Rapoport: I don’t remember.
Attorney Baldyga: I don't remember. Your Honor, in this regard, I have a motion to request Rapoport's income tax return from the tax authorities. I'll explain my motion: was Mr. Rapoport physically able to...
Judge: Attorney Baldyga, the questioning is currently underway. You can submit your motions after the questioning. Perhaps your colleagues will suppress the information you wish to know. Do you have any further questions?
Attorney Baldyga: No, your honor. Attorney Sharapa, please. 23-04
Attorney Sharapa: What can you say about whether Basov, as the director of the enterprise SSPD, had control over individual entrepreneurs operating in the funeral services industry? Did you understand the question?
Rapoport: I understand the question. I was simply checking, of course.
Attorney Sharapa: In what way?
Rapoport: Go to the cemetery yourself and count who did what
Attorney Sharapa: Did he have such a function, granted by the Sevastopol government? Do you know about it or not?
Rapoport: I don't know. I don't understand.
Attorney Sharap: You don't know. Can you say that Basov had such a function?
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): I don’t understand the question, I can’t answer it.
Attorney Sharapa: I repeat once again...
Rapoport (interrupting the lawyer): You can repeat it three hundred times, I don’t understand.
Attorney Sharapa: Why don't you understand?
Rapoport: Well, because he’s stupid.
Attorney Sharap: Clueless. Tell me, please, you said Basov could have interfered, carried out certain actions, prevented you from entering the cemetery, and so on. Were there any such instances before Koroleva approached you and provided the payment order?
Rapoport: I don't know.
Attorney Sharapa: No, I'm asking you, were there any such cases where you and your workers were not allowed into the cemetery before Koroleva provided you with a payment order?
Rapoport: I... I am not aware of any such cases.
Attorney Sharapa: Unknown. Could you please tell me if there have been any such cases after you were provided with a payment order?
Rapoport: No, I don’t know of any such cases either.
Attorney Sharapa: It's unknown. Please tell me, did you testify during the confrontation with Basov that you had a privileged position at the cemetery?
Prosecutor: I protest...
Judge: Defense attorney, the confrontation document was not read out. You can ask it differently, without referring to the confrontation.
Attorney Sharapa: Okay, we'll abstain then and ask it after it's announced.
Lawyer Sharapa : Please tell me, have you contacted law enforcement agencies?
Rapoport: Yes
Attorney Sharap: With a statement? Was that true?
Rapoport: It was
Attorney Sharapa: And in addressing this question, your honor, I am asking it for a reason: when he contacted law enforcement agencies regarding Beglyarov, the man probably already had personal acquaintances with law enforcement officers.
Judge: In connection with the defense attorney's question, please tell me whether your appeal to law enforcement, which the defense attorney is asking you about, is in any way connected to the criminal case against Beglyarov and the circumstances of the appeal against Basov. Please tell me whether it is connected or not.
Rapoport: No, it's not related.
Judge: Defense attorney, please do not ask any questions about Beglyarov.
Attorney Sharapa: Did you know any law enforcement officers from the Economic Crimes and Combating Corruption Department, including in connection with the previously filed complaint regarding Beglyarov?
Rapoport: I'm not answering the question.
Judge: Witness, you are obliged to answer the question. You may not answer questions about yourself and your close relatives ( explains rights, inaudible ).
Rapoport: Well, I don’t think (further illegible )
The judge explains the responsibility for refusing to testify in accordance with the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation
Rappoport: I know, I have some acquaintances...
Attorney Sharap: Did you file a complaint against Basov with the same employees?
Rapoport: The structure's composition hasn't changed, so it's the same
Attorney Sharapa: To the same employees. Please tell me, were you aware of the employees' cell phone numbers?
Rapoport: No, they are not known.
Attorney Sharapa: Did you call the police?
Rapoport: No, I didn't call.
Attorney Sharapa: After filing a complaint against Basov, did you personally call the police?
Rapoport: I personally didn't call
Attorney Sharapa: Did the police call you?
Rapoport: When the police called, they called
Attorney Sharapa: Operatives or investigative officers?
Rapoport: I don’t know.
Attorney Sharapa: Please tell me, did you really have a privileged position at the 5 km cemetery?
Rapoport: You could say yes.
Attorney Sharapa: What did it consist of?
Rapoport: Firstly, I worked as a senior caretaker, and under Ukrainian law, I had the right to combine my work with entrepreneurial activity. I held the position and was a private entrepreneur, so I had a privilege.
Attorney Sharapa: You basically appropriated this privilege to yourself, am I correct in understanding?
Rapoport: Why myself? By law, I had the right to combine
Attorney Sharapa: And you took advantage of your official duties, including performing entrepreneurial functions, am I correct in understanding?
Rapoport: No, that's wrong.
And lawyer Sharapa: What then is the privilege?
Rapoport: I could only carry out entrepreneurial activities outside of working hours, which is what I did.
Judge: Defense attorney, are you asking about the period of activity under Basov, or in general, recalling the laws of Ukraine, other leaders, what period are you asking about?
Sharap's lawyer: I'm talking about his privilege...
Judge: Can you talk about your work during this period in this case? Can you explain, based on the circumstances of this case, whether there was a privileged position during this period, in 14-15?
Rapoport: No, all of that was in the past.
Judge: Tell me, what was your privilege, did you have any advantages?
Rapoport: Under Basov, nothing
Judge: Defense counsel, did you receive an answer to your question?
Attorney Sharapa: Yes. Witness, what did you say about your potential harm in your privileged activities under Basov, specifically? Because you testified that you had any privileges under Basov, but not earlier, not during the Ukrainian period?
Rapoport: I worked with the Queen, and the Queen was the head of the cemeteries, that's all and all the privileges
Attorney Sharapa: So, Koroleva helped you with your business activities, am I correct in understanding?
Rapoport: No, that's not right. The Queen didn't help, I'm my own boss.
Attorney Sharapa: Why then do you refer to the Queen, why the reference to the Queen?
Rapoport: unclear
Attorney Sharapa: What, what consequences were you afraid of then, if you didn’t have a privileged position and your kiosk was illegal?
Judge: Defense attorney Sharap, the witness has answered the question repeatedly, considering that Koroleva is the director of cemeteries. He has already answered the question. Please be more attentive. Witness, can you answer the question?
Rapoport: Well, I already answered the questions.
Judge: Please answer again why, being in such a relationship with the Queen, you were afraid of Basov.
Rapoport: Koroleva isn't a director. A director has more authority, more leverage, a ton of leverage, I won't go into detail. There were such leverages, it's all figurative, theoretical, you know?
Attorney Sharapa: So you didn’t know the specific levers of pressure on you?
Rapoport: I could guess: close the gates...
Attorney Sharapa: So, wait a second, were you somehow informed that the gates would be closed?
Rapoport: No.
Lawyer Sharapa: You haven’t had a chance to do this, including through Korolev?
Rapoport: including through Korolev
Attorney Sharapa: There were no reports of any negative consequences for you, correct?
Rapoport: I haven't seen it happen specifically, but there was a theory.
Attorney Sharapa: Theory. So no one made demands or threats to you through Koroleva?
Rapoport: Why? Write it down so you don't have to repeat it later. Basov's statement was relayed to me through Korolev, stating that there was an order to eliminate everyone connected to the Beglyarov case. The biggest fear is that I'll be eliminated because I was connected to the Beglyarov case.
Attorney Sharapa: Please tell me what you mean by "remove"? Physically eliminate?
Rapoport : Including physical attacks. I was attacked twice, including physically, I'll explain again – including physically, understand?
Sharap's lawyer: No, it's not clear.
Rapoport: Don't understand? Let me explain again – including physically, because I received threats.
Attorney Sharapa: Please tell me, did Basov make threats of physical elimination through Korolev?
Rapoport: No, about physical ones – no, but they were
Lawyer Sharap: From whom?
Rapoport: Okay, threats about physical elimination were conveyed to me through Koroleva from Basov’s friends
Attorney Sharapa: I would like to draw the court's attention and record that this is specifically about extortion in the criminal sense, in the legal sense, and not about extortion of a bribe. What the witness is saying now is that he allegedly received extortion requests for physical pain and physical harm, but not about extortion of a bribe.
Judge: Defense attorney, you are now commenting on the last question. The witness has already answered a lot, and now, please, your question to the witness.
Attorney Sharap: Of course, I just...
Judge: You will give your assessments during the debate.
Sharap's lawyer: I'm not giving an assessment, I'm asking for it to be included in the protocol.
Judge: Please ( inaudible ) I'm not stopping you, I suggest you ask questions if you have any more, if you don't have any questions, we'll give another lawyer the opportunity to ask questions.
Attorney Sharap: I have questions.
Judge: Please ask.
Attorney Sharap: Can this be included in the record?
Judge: What exactly? It's already been recorded, everything that was said has already been entered into the protocol.
Attorney Sharapa: Thank you. Please tell me, what do you mean when you said you gave 400 rubles in cash, and Koroleva gave 100 rubles? Over what period of time did you make these payments?
Rapoport: At the end of each month
Attorney Sharapa: How many payments did you make through the bank?
Rapoport: Three
Attorney Sharapa: Through the banking system – three, for what amounts?
Rapoport: The first one was 400, the second one I don’t remember, the third one was 500.
Lawyer Sharapa: The third time -500, don’t you remember the second time?
Rappoport: I don’t remember.
Attorney Sharapa: Please tell me how the funds were transferred by Koroleva during this period, during these three periods. So, the first time, when you made the payment for 400, then for 395, and then for 500—how did Koroleva transfer the funds during this period? Can you clarify?
Rapoport: How did I transfer funds to Koroleva?
Sharap's lawyer: You testified that you paid 400 thousand, and Korolev paid 100 thousand.
Rapoport: Queen
Attorney Sharapa: So, since when did Koroleva start paying? What do you know about this?
Rapoport: I know that from the very beginning the Queen paid 100 thousand.
Sharap's lawyer: Did Koroleva pay 100 thousand from the very beginning?
Rapoport: Yes
Attorney Sharapa: From what period of time, what do you mean “from the very beginning?”
Rapoport: I find it difficult to answer.
Attorney Sharapa: Well, when was that? Can we say that it was from the time you made your first payment?
Rapoport: You could say
Sharapa's lawyer: I see. How did she transfer funds to Basov? What do you know about this?
Rapoport: Personally, I handed it over personally.
Attorney Sharapa: 100 personally? Tell me, the payment was on September 1st, 15. Why did Koroleva give you 100?
Rapoport: I'll explain again: Queen gave me 100, knowing that the payment would go through the bank as always, then Basov changed his mind and decided to take it in cash, so I returned the money to Queen.
Sharap's lawyer: I don't understand.
Rapoport: Let me explain again. Koroleva gave me the sum, so I could transfer it through the bank as usual. Then Gennady Anatolyevich changed his mind about receiving it through the bank and decided to receive it through Koroleva. Naturally, Koroleva gave me the money.
Attorney Sharapa: So, what amount of money did Basov actually plan to get from you?
Rapoport: What he thought, ask Basov, I don’t know
Attorney Sharapa: What did Koroleva explain about this? She spoke with you, didn’t she?
Rapoport: I don’t remember what she explained.
Attorney Sharapa: You don't remember what she explained. Then why did she give you 100?
Rapoport: Not to me, but to Basov
Attorney Sharapa: No, she gave it to you initially, for what purpose?
Rapoport: In order for me to transfer the full amount of 500 thousand through the bank
Lawyer Sharap: 500 thousand?
Rapoport: yes
Attorney Sharapa: It's good that you can explain then, so on the 1st, let's say, this scheme, in your opinion, didn't work, right?
Rapoport : Well
Attorney Sharapa: Wait a second, on September 1, 2015, you already knew that the funds were being transferred in person, on September 1?
Rapoport: No, I didn't know.
Attorney Sharapa: When did you find out?
Rapoport: Later, when Larisa Nikolaevna said
Attorney Sharapa: When, well, in how much time?
Rappoport: I don’t know, I don’t remember
Lawyer Sharapa: Well, until the 29th of the same month?
Rapoport: I don’t keep a diary, I remember facts, but when they…
Attorney Sharapa : Please tell me, why did she give you 100 thousand on the 29th?
Rappoport : Let the Queen speak
Lawyer Sharapa: Well, you didn’t ask her why you were giving me money?
Rapoport: to transfer money to Basov through the bank
Attorney Sharapa: You already knew, Koroleva didn't give you the payment receipt. Which bank are you talking about? If you weren't transferring money through the bank on September 1st, what are you talking about now?
Rapoport: I can't answer
Attorney Sharapa: Can't you answer "yes" to that question? Please tell me, before you filed your statement with the police, did you believe you were under threat of physical violence? What did you report in your statement?
Rapoport: They are illegally extorting money from us
Attorney Sharapa: In what way did you report to the police?
Rapoport: They are making demands
Attorney Sharapa: demands, in what way, what kind of demands are these – will they cut off your leg, cut off your arm, what, what will they do to you, won’t they let your car into the cemetery?
Rapoport: including this
Lawyer Sharapa: what, among other things.
Rapoport: They won't let the car in
Sharap's lawyer: Will they cut off your leg, cut off your arm?
Rapoport: What does this have to do with it?
Judge: The court clarifies, witness, in addressing law enforcement agencies, what you wrote in the statement, that it was illegal for you...
Rapoport: They are demanding illegally
Judge: Why and for what purpose are they extorting money? Can you explain, without the defense asking about physical violence?
Rapoport: OK, for the possibility of hindering me in my business activities
Attorney Sharapa: Possibility of obstruction, correct, that is, there was no real threat against you until September 24, 2015?
Rapoport: There were no real threats
Attorney Sharapa: I apologize for not receiving any real threats until August 24th or September. Tell me, please. You've explained about the threats, but what about actual instances of you and your employees being prevented from working, regarding the kiosk, did Basov take any action?
Rapoport : payments were made, so they did not exist; if they had not been made, they would have been ( inaudible )
Lawyer Sharapa: Why didn't you do that?
Rapoport: done
Attorney Sharapa: They worked illegally and gave away the money. Why didn't you do the same? Why didn't you act like a law-abiding citizen?
Rapoport: I was accepted.
Russian Bloc has released a transcript of Basov's trial.