22:00, 18 April 2011

At trial on Markelov-and-Baburova murder case chair rejects judge challenge

Judge Alexander Zamashnyuk, chairing the trial on the murders of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova, has dismissed the petition lodged by Alexei Nikulochkin, defendants' advocate, on judge disqualification. The judge explained his decision by saying that a judge challenge should be petitioned prior to formation of the jury.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that after this the prosecution party moved a petition to question the witness Sergey Golubev, which was satisfied. Golubev, who asked the court not to disclose his personal data, said that he is a Russian nationalist, and had discussed with Tikhonov the issues of Russian nationalists' coming to power, including armed struggle and resistance tactics.

Author: Julia Buslavskaya

Source: CK correspondent