The case in summary • Mikhail Valeriyevich Mikushin, a researcher charged with espionage, has been detained for almost two years.• Mikushin has admitted that he was not the Brazilian visiting researcher José Assis Giammaria, but Russian Mikhail Valeriyevich Mikushin.• PST has expanded the charge from intelligence activities to gross intelligence activities .• The prosecution decision against Mikusjin is expected to be decided in August, and the trial may start in September.• Mikusjin has agreed to be detained until 31 July 2024.• Director of Administration Jørgen Fossland at UiT looks forward to the case approaching a decision. In October 2022, a visiting researcher at UiT was arrested by the police and charged with intelligence activities. The man has since been remanded in custody, and the PST has expanded the charge from intelligence activities to serious intelligence activities against state secrets. The man has admitted that he was not the Brazilian visiting researcher José Assis Giammaria, but the Russian Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin. In April, PST finished the investigation, and the case has been sent to the National State Attorney’s Office. – We aim to decide the indictment issue at the beginning of August, says First State Attorney Reidar Bruusgaard to news. Here, Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin is arrested by the police. The video was shown during the Skup journalist conference in 2023. Legal expert: Likely to go to trial The actual criminal case against Mikusjin has already been pre-scheduled for week 38, and is expected to be decided before Christmas, according to the latest imprisonment order from the Oslo district court. – A pre-arrangement is a practical solution, to ensure that the main hearing can be held within a reasonable time, says associate professor Marie Vangen at the Faculty of Law, UiT. Associate professor Marie Vangen says that there are often large court cases with many actors that are scheduled in advance. Photo: Ingvild Vik / news She works with criminal law and criminal procedure, and has previously worked as a judge. – The court in no way takes a position on the question of the defendant’s guilt by accepting pre-arrangement. Having said that, it can still be mentioned that the court already has some insight into the criminal case through the imprisonment case, which they have dealt with several times. In the latest detention order, it appears that the court believes that the grounds for suspicion are strong. – This indicates that the case will most likely come before the court, i.e. that an indictment will be issued and that a main hearing will be held, says Vangen. Consent to further detention On 22 May, Mikhail Valeriyevich Mikushin was remanded in custody for 10 new weeks, until 31 July 2024. – The court believes that the nature of the case and the accused’s presumed connection to the Russian authorities means that the risk of evasion is particularly strong, the district court writes in the ruling. Mikusjin has agreed to remand. Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin has admitted that he used a false identity in Norway. Photo: Center for peace studies In September, when the trial is scheduled, the Russian accused of spying will have been detained for almost two years. Director of Administration Jørgen Fossland says that no one at UiT is suspected or charged in the case, but that he is looking forward to a decision. – A number of employees in the environment surrounding the accused have been questioned by the police, which has been a great strain. We look forward to the case being closed. Marijana Lozic, lawyer for Mikusjin, says they relate to the Attorney General’s decision. Photo: Stig Jaarvik / news Dealing with the Attorney General Mikusjin’s lawyer Marijana Lozic says that they deal with the Attorney General’s decision regarding a possible indictment. The fact that the district court has been given access to the case’s documents in connection with imprisonment, she believes, should not have any impact on the prosecution decision. – The standard of proof for criminal guilt is far lower for matters of detention than for conviction. – Beyond that, I do not want to comment on the case at the present time, Lozic says to news. Published 09/07/2024, at 12.04
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Trial may start in September 2024 – news Troms and Finnmark
