Injured party in Baturin case withdraws claims

MOSCOW, April 14 (Itar-Tass) - The injured party in the case against
Viktor Baturin (elder brother of the former Moscow mayor's wife), accused
of fraud, has said he has no claims again the defendant and that he
believes he is innocent.
Dmitry Zhuravlyov, director of the investments department of the
Gazstroikomplet company, made the statement at Moscow's Presnya court on
Wednesday. The court began to review Baturin's case on April 7.
"Zhuravlyov asked the court to drop criminal proceedings against
Baturin due to a lack of corpus delicti. Upon learning all the
circumstance, he believes that my client is innocent," Baturin's lawyer
told Itar-Tass.
However, the Criminal Code article (fraud) does not envision
reconciliation between the parties, so the legal action will continue.
Zhuravyov told the court he had received full compensation from Baturin
for the aborted transaction.
The witnesses for the prosecution is due to testify at the trial on
April 20.
According to the indictment, Baturin, who is elder brother of the wife
of former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, is accused of fraud, i.e. stealing
property through fraud.
The prosecutor said he had devised a scheme to come in possession of
other people's property. On June 2, 2008, Baturin sold his acquaintance -
Igor Vashurkin - non-residential quarters located in house 26 in 2nd
Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street. The transaction was registered to the buyer's
father - Oleg Vashurkin.
The investigators said Baturin had received 23.8 million roubles, and
pledged to pass the property to the buyer within three weeks.
However, on June 30, 2008, Baturin sold his property to another buyer
- Dmitry Zhuravlyov. The businessman paid to him 1.5 million dollars and
Baturin issued him a note of hand. He guarantied to the buyer that the
property had not been sold to third persons, pawned or gifted.
As a result of criminal actions, Baturin illegal received over 35
million roubles, a prosecutor said, adding that he had used the money
derived from two transactions at his discretion.
Baturin pleaded not guilty to fraud charges. "I'm not guilty of
anything, and reject the charges" he stated at a hearing.