Search witness in Titiev's case tells court about his work for the police

Beslan Tasuev, who was present as a witness during the inspection of the car of Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", had worked in the Kurchaloi ROVD (District Interior Division) a year before. Ibragim Daudov, a prosecution witness, was on duty on the day of Titiev's detention at a police checkpoint, but this information is absent in official documents.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 28, the court began questioning Beslan Tasuev, 35, an unemployed, who was witnessing the search of Titiev's car. Tasuev said that he was anxious, and asked for an interpreter. At a court session on October 1, he said that he was present at the withdrawal of the marijuana package from Titiev's car.

In the course of interrogation, Tasuev confessed to being an employee of the police patrol-and-post service (PPS), but insisted that he was not acquainted with the policeman, who had offered him to become a search witness.

Ibragim Daudov, the second interrogated witness, had served at the Kurchaloi ROVD until August 2018.

Pyotr Zaikin, one of Titiev's advocates, has treated Daudov's testimony as a proof of his bias. The fact that the witness is a former policeman means that he is an interested person.

According to Mr Zaikin, the court must interrogate at least two more prosecution witnesses.

Holding a part of the trial behind closed doors had no effect on the credibility of testimonies, but allowed those who had fabricated the case to remain in the shadow, Oyub Titiev himself believes.