Pickets held in Nalchik against jury's decision on Sviridov's murder case

Today, in the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, relatives of Aslan Cherkesov, accused of murdering Yegor Sviridov, a football fan, held two sole pickets, demanding fair justice for Aslan Cherkesov. According to his relatives, the court "prejudges" him.

Let us remind you that yesterday, on October 20, the jury of the Moscow City Court unanimously pleaded Aslan Cherkesov guilty of Yegor Sviridov's murder and of robbery. According to the jury, Aslan Cherkesov does not deserve leniency.

"One picket was held near the Government House of Kabardino-Balkaria, and it lasted less than ten minutes," said Sonya Cherkesova, the defendant's mother.

According to her, then people in uniform approached her and invited her to meet with Ruslan Eshugaov, the head of the Republic's Council for Economic and Public Safety.

"I see that the court "prejudges" my son. I appealed to Ruslan Eshugaov with a single request of a fair justice for my son," says Cherkesov's mother.

Sonya Cherkesova is indignant that the media give "false information regarding the incident, which negatively affects the public opinion, and may affect the court decision".

"I told the ex-General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) that my son did not shoot in the back of Sviridov's head. He was shooting when he was lying on a car bonnet; Sviridov clobbered Aslan, and the bullet entered the frontoparietal part of the victim's head," stated Sonya Cherkesova.

According to her, Ruslan Eshugaov promised to pass her request to Arsen Kanokov, President of the Republic. "However, he let me understand that I should cherish no illusions on the specific help," said Sonya Cherkesova.

The second picket was held in Maria Square, and it lasted more than two hours.

"Many strangers approached us to express their support. The trial against Aslan has a political background, and we demand fair justice. People came out of their cars and supported us," said Anya Cherkesova, the defendant's sister.

According to her, police officers did not impede the picket.