Moscow City Court has started considering the substance of the case against former FSB officer Igor Strelkov (Girkin) regarding public calls for extremism, according to TASS citing lawyer Gadzhi Aliyev.

"During today's hearing at Moscow City Court, Strelkov was read the indictment. My client categorically disagreed with the arguments of this document and did not admit guilt," said Aliyev.

Another defender of Strelkov, Alexander Molokhov, explained that the former officer has already given testimony: "Usually, defendants give testimony at the end of the judicial investigation, but our client is fighting with an open visor because he has nothing to hide," Molokhov clarified to BFM.

According to Aliyev, Strelkov stated in court that he did not call for extremist activities on his Telegram channel, "and the motive for posting was to draw attention to the problems of mobilized servicemen in the DPR [Donetsk People's Republic] who were not paid their allowances."

This refers to a post by Strelkov in which he stated that those responsible for the non-payment should be "shot." Sota, citing Molokhov, reports that in court, Strelkov called these words an "opinion, a figurative expression that should not be taken literally under any circumstances."

The court is hearing Strelkov's case in a closed session.