26 June the Russian Supreme Court confirmed a sensational verdict of not guilty by the Petersburg Court. The three accused of attempt on the governor of the northern capital Valentina Matvienko – alleged “Islamic terrorists” Timur Saidgareev, Ravil Muratov and Vladislav Baranov - had been acquitted by the jury, after which the prosecution appealed the verdict in the Supreme Court.   

The lawyer Vladislav Lapinsky told to a Novaya Gazeta correspondent there had not been absolute certainty about favorable outcome as the whole matter had a political tint. The advisement had lasted unusually long which proves, in the lawyer’s opinion, that there was no pre-arranged decision. So the final verdict of not guilty was quite objective.  

The most celebrated case of attempt in Petersburg started in May last year. Then FSB reported to have detained the suspects of the possible attempt, with whom the guns and explosives were allegedly found in the course of searching made.  

The engineer Timur Saidgareev, 29, programmer Ravil Muratov, 20, and Vladislav Baranov, 17, were charged with the grave articles of the Criminal Code: preparation on attempt on a public figure, illegal traffic of weapons and explosives, and attempt on a terrorist act.  

Now the three ex-accused are going to put an action about compensation of moral and material damage caused to them.