Participant of events witnesses at the trial on militants' attack on the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria

At the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria, at the trial on the events on October 13, 2005, Murat Abazov, an amnestied participant of the attack and now a witness of the prosecution, gave his evidence.

Murat Abazov was a member of the group in charge of attacking the republic's MIA. However, he refused to take part in the action, threw his firearms away and surrendered to law enforcement bodies. In October 2006, he was amnestied.

Answering the questions of the prosecution about oppressions of Moslems prior the events on October 13, 2005, Mr Abazov said that oppressions had been practised and "everyone spoke about it." He reminded of an incident, when he was brought to the militia and beaten by law enforcers there.

The prosecution moved a petition asking to announce his evidences given at the preliminary investigation, since there were discrepancies with what he said this time. Despite the protests of the defence, they were partially announced.

The witness has explained that the discrepancies are the implications of the physical and psychological pressure exerted on him by the investigatory bodies. He also said that some of his words had been distorted in inspector's records.

Answering the defendants' questions, the witness told about the facts of use of violence and torture by law enforcers to the persons detained on suspicion of taking part in the attack on Nalchik.