Defendants on the case of attack on Nalchik go on hunger strike

Towards the end of the court hearing today, 40 defendants on the criminal case of an attack on Nalchik on October 13, 2005 in Kabardino-Balkaria announced that they were going on hunger strike  to protest against denial of medical treatment to defendant Sergei Kaziyev whose state of health needed it.

Prior to this, an ambulance was called for to the court room for Kaziyev. The doctors examined the defendant, made him an analgesic injection and issued a certificate that Kaziyev suffered from a relapse of chronic hepatitis and venous thrombophlebitis in lower limbs but "he is able to take part in the court proceedings".

On the basis of the above certificate and the medical opinion issued by doctors of the hospital at the labor colony No 3 under the RF Punishment Execution Service department for KBR, presiding judge Galina Gorislavskaya declined the petition to send Koziyev for hospital treatment at the "SPID" center or to adjourn the court session.

The defendants also stated to the court today that their guards who were sent to the republic from another region treated them in a humiliating manner. "They photograph us using mobile phones, probably for their home videos", relayed one of the defendants.

The court promised to take measures.