MOSCOW, February 1 - RAPSI. Life News website lawyer Tatiana Khokhlova maintains that it has not violated the law by posting eavesdropped telephone conversations of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov because the publication just protected public interest.

The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case for violating telephone conversations secrecy in response to the publication of Nemtsov's phone conversations with opposition activists on Life News website.

Nemtsov hopes that Aram Gabrelyanov, Director of News media-Rus which controls Life News, will be punished. Nevertheless, its lawyers claim the law was observed.

"In his telephone calls with other politicians Nemtsov discussed public effort strategy and tactics. And he used a rough tongue speaking about his colleagues and spoke in a humiliating way about ordinary people who followed him in a rally and trusted him. So we believe that we have not violated Nemtsov's constitutional right to privacy as they were unrelated to any aspect of his or his opponents' private life," said Khokhlova.

The lawyer holds that the media executed its duty to "inform people timely and properly".

According to Khokhlova Life News will request investigators to check Nemtsov's statements in terms of inciting social hatred and having extremist features.

Nemtsov said he is doubtful the investigation will continue and guilty persons will be punished.