Defendants in Ruslan Yamadaev's murder case tell about threats at trial

During the trial on the murder of Ruslan Yamadaev the defendants were exposed to pressure and received direct threats. This was stated by Aslanbek Dadaev, Elimpashi Khatsuev and Zaur Samkhanov, the latter's advocate, at the session, where their cassation appeals were considered.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dismissed the cassation appeals filed by the defendants' advocates.

"The leadership of the Chechen Republic sought that we evidence against ourselves, and they threatened my relatives. At some point, my nephew Ilyas Khatsuev was kidnapped," said Elimpashi Khatsuev. According to his story, then he was told that should he fail to evidence, he would never see his nephew again.

"Now I regret very much that I had refused to evidence: the body of Ilyas was found in the village, where he lived. My elder brother was also killed, and, in my opinion, this was associated with this case," said Khatsuev.

Zaur Samkhanov, Khatsuev's advocate, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that a criminal case had been initiated on the nephew's in the Shali District. "There is another story with Khatsuev's elder brother, who perished in Yaroslavl. He was found dead in the bathroom. There was a red spot on his neck, probably, a mark from a syringe. They did not allow opening a criminal case and intimidated the family," said Samkhanov.

Dadaev and Khatsuev reported at the trial that Isa Yamadaev, the casualty's brother, exposed them to pressure.

According to their advocates, the proofs of their clients' involvement in the murder of Ruslan Yamadaev and attempt on Alexander Antonov break into pieces.

"There is an evidence of witness Dmitriev, which is obviously against the reality. Moreover, testimonies of several other witnesses were not added to the case files. There is a car, in which Khatsuev and Dadaev allegedly drove up to Smolenskaya Embankment. However, evidences differ in regard to its colour and model. Besides, the Khatsuev's car, which is believed to be involved in the case, was at the car park from August 9 till September 28, 2008. The murder was committed on September 24," said Samkhanov.

Besides, Khatsuev has an alibi for the time of the murder - he was out of town with his civil wife. "There are also witnesses who confirmed that they saw him there. However, their evidences were ignored and not added to the case files," said the advocate.

Leila Khamzaeva, the advocate of Aslanbek Dadaev, believes that not only the proofs of the defendants' guilt are absent, but also the decision in the Moscow City Court was caused by the biased attitude to Chechens. Besides, the defendants were not allowed to participate in the debates, which is a violation of the Constitution.

Aset Kasueva, Timur Isaev's advocate, has also noted the absurdity of the evidences presented by the prosecution.

The prosecutor of the Supreme Court said that he saw no reason for satisfying the cassation appeals.