Primorsky Krai legislator from opposition sentenced to 13 years in prison for child molestation
The Primorsky court has upheld the previously annulled sentence of Artyom Samsonov for committing violent acts of a sexual nature. He has been sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony. In his final statement, the legislator maintained his innocence.
According to the prosecution's version of events, in July 2018, Samsonov allegedly showed a dildo to an 11-year-old boy on the beach. During questioning, the deputy claimed that he had never seen the child before, but knew his father.
The case against Samsonov, who represents the Communist Party, was initiated in November 2021 after he won a seat in the regional legislature defeating a United Russia candidate. Prior to this, the politician actively supported Alexei Navalny and participated in rallies in January 2021.
On September 20, 2022, the Vladivostok court sentenced Samsonov to 13 years in a penal colony. In February 2023, the sentence was overturned on appeal. Samsonov was briefly released from under house arrest but was soon taken to the pre-trial detention center.