The lawyer for Marina Popova, accused of abuse of power and forgery in the Coal Miners Park construction case, emphasized a ruling from the Deputy Prosecutor of the Trans-Baikal Territory demanding further investigation and suggesting criminal responsibility for ex-city manager Alexander Sapozhnikov. This argument was presented in court on May 29, focusing on the prosecutor’s concerns about the handling of the park’s construction and acceptance.

The lawyer referenced the Deputy Prosecutor’s March 2024 ruling, which called for the return of the criminal case for additional investigation. The ruling scrutinized the decision to terminate the criminal prosecution of Alexander Sapozhnikov, the former city manager.

The Deputy Prosecutor’s ruling highlighted that Sapozhnikov, despite knowing the poor quality of the park’s construction, instructed Popova to sign the acceptance act and authorize payment. This, according to the ruling, led to the acceptance of an unfinished park and undermined the authority of local governments.

The lawyer emphasized the prosecutor’s assertion that Sapozhnikov should have faced procedural action, particularly given his interrogation as a suspect in the case.

The lawyer further revealed that the chief prosecutor of the Trans-Baikal Territory supported his deputy’s decision and rejected the investigator’s appeal. The chief prosecutor’s ruling deemed Sapozhnikov’s order to accept the park as illegal and potentially constituting incitement to a crime, suggesting possible charges under the Criminal Code.

Despite these findings, the lawyer pointed out that the decision to terminate the criminal prosecution against Sapozhnikov was later overturned by the Prosecutor’s Office in October 2024.

The lawyer mentioned that his personal complaints to the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor’s Office regarding the termination of the case against Sapozhnikov were deferred, with instructions to address the matter in court.

Previously, Popova’s lawyer had questioned the legality of Sapozhnikov’s shift from suspect to witness status, also noting FSB claims of Sapozhnikov using connections to hinder the investigation.

The Coal Miners Park project, initiated in July 2020, faced challenges including the discovery of groundwater not accounted for in the original plans. Despite these issues, construction continued, and Popova, as head of the city economy committee, accepted and paid for the subpar work in December of that year.

The park’s condition deteriorated within months, becoming waterlogged, leading to claims against the contractor for poor workmanship and embezzlement suspicions. Popova herself faced fines in 2022 for altering the contract’s scope and paying for incomplete work. The Control and Accounts Chamber also investigated the expenses, referring the findings to law enforcement. Sapozhnikov unexpectedly resigned in late 2022 to participate in the SVO.