MOSCOW, April 27 (RIA Novosti) - A woman facing up to five years in prison for allegedly assaulting a police officer while trying to prevent dogcatchers killing stray dogs in Moscow, Thursday rejected release under amnesty.
Lidiya Popova, 56, a speech therapist, told a district court she did not want to be released under amnesty, since that would mean she admitted being guilty.
"I do not consider myself a criminal, which is why I reject a release under amnesty," Popova said, adding that police had treated her improperly by hitting her on her leg while dragging her by her hands September 14, and kept her for about eight hours at a police station.
Popova's lawyer, Yevgeny Chernousov, said prosecutors had failed to provide convincing evidence, and that some evidence had been obtained contrary to procedures allowed by the Criminal Code.
