In Oyub Titiev's case, a witness to be questioned behind closed doors

At the trial in the case against the head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" office in Grozny Oyub Titiev, public prosecutor persuaded the court to question a policeman behind closed doors and explained his request by presence in the courtroom of journalists from editions that "presented information in a distorted way."

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 27, the court decided to continue the hearing in the Oyub Titiev's case in an open mode, but on the same day closed the questioning of the rear chief of the Kurchaloi ROVD (District Interior Division) and the field investigator, who took Oyub Titiev to a narcological clinic for examination. Oyub Titiev himself stated that the key witnesses questioned behind closed doors gave false testimonies.

Today, the public prosecutor has filed a motion to conduct the questioning of witness Elmurzaev behind closed doors and explained his request by the fact that the witness is an active police officer engaged in operational and investigative activities, fight against extremism, and fight against drug trafficking.

The open questioning of Elmurzaev will lead to the disclosure of his personal data and may become unsafe for him, the public prosecutor has explained.

The defence and Oyub Titiev himself have opposed the proposal voiced by the public prosecutor. Advocates Pyotr Zaikin and Ilya Novikov have offered the court to hold behind closed doors only a part of the questioning at which Elmurzaev will disclose his personal data, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The public prosecutor has objected that the matter is not in secrecy, but in the activities carried out by the police officers, reports the press service of the HRC "Memorial". "In the courtroom, there are reporters of mass media that present information in a distorted way," stated the public prosecutor as quoted in a message posted on the HRC "Memorial" Telegram channel.

The judge has granted the public prosecutor' motion and pronounced the decision to hold the hearing behind closed doors during the questioning of field investigator Elmurzaev. "Tomorrow [on October 9], another witness is expected to be questioned behind closed doors," notes the message released by the HRC "Memorial".

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 8, 2018 at 01:43 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.