23:00, 23 September 2010

SC of Kabardino-Balkaria rejects defence's arguments in favour of release of defendants in Nalchik attack case

The Supreme Court (SC) of Kabardino-Balkaria, which has extended today by other three months the custody of 57 defendants in the case dealing with the militants' attack on Nalchik in October 2005, believes that the grounds to keep them behind bars have not changed.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the custody extension ruling was announced by Judge Aslan Dumanov, a member of the board of three judges, which is considering the case.

The ruling notes that the custody is expended "because each of the defendants is accused of committing grave and especially grave crimes, while the grounds for their custody have not changed and were not found illegal."

According to the ruling, "the advocates' arguments that the defendants have lost the chance to exert pressure on the course of litigation are unsound." The court has extended their custody till December 26, 2010.

One defendant - Kazbek Budtuev, - who was under home arrest, will now be under recognizance not to leave.

Author: Luiza Orazaeva

Source: CK correspondent