Defence states unequal terms at Oyub Titiev's trial

The court has rejected the defence's petition to question the owners of the stores equipped with video cameras, which could record the route of Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny office of the Human Tights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", on the day of his detention. This proves that the defence and the prosecution are in unequal conditions, Pyotr Zaikin, an advocate, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the trial of Oyub Titiev's case began on July 19. At the session on December 24, the defence began presenting written proofs.

According to the version of the defence, on the day of detention, Titiev was brought to the police station twice. In the opinion of his advocates, the very fact of Titiev's repeated delivery to the police station proves that the drug possession case against him was falsified.

The prosecution has opposed the questioning of witnesses, arguing that their testimonies are in the protocol from the venue.

The court has announced a break until January 14.

The refusal of the court to satisfy the defence's motion to question the owners of the stores equipped with video cameras in the city of Kurchaloi was expected, said Pyotr Zaikin, who added that because of this, it is not possible to establish whether the video records were seized or destroyed.