Trial on explosion of "Neva-Express" train is accelerated, lawyer Pliev asserts

The Tver Regional Court continues process on the case of explosion at the "Neva-Express" train in 2009, in which 10 natives of Ingushetia are the figurants. The trial has already questioned defence witnesses, presented evidence; the defendants' interrogation was appointed for November 21. According to Musa Pliev, the lawyer of two defendants, the trial is being accelerated, and the prosecution has failed to answer key questions, including the question of motive.

"On September 12, the trial was started; then we had a long break till October 11, and since October we had another break. In less than a month, we announced 70 volumes of the case. During this time, it is impossible just to read so many volumes, let alone to realize the real meaning of things," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Musa Pliev, one of the lawyers engaged in the process.

According to him, early in the process, everyone thought that the trial would extend for at least six months, since the case was a serious one, and 10 persons are accused of the terror act. "However, at present, an obvious acceleration occurs. I believe that someone needs the result before the elections," the lawyer expresses his opinion.

Let us remind you that last week Musa Pliev was hospitalized to the Cardiology Centre named after Bakuleev with a heart attack. According to him, now he feels fine.

The lawyer believes that his clients are kept in custody illegally, and he himself has many questions about the indictment.

"They are charged of the fact that they allegedly looked there for an explosive device for Said Buryatsky. And again, investigators fail to describe how and where they met Said Buryatsky, what kind of relationship they had. That is, there is no document, which would point to the fact that they were the members of his grouping," Musa Pliev emphasizes.

According to him, the investigators fail to answer the main question - what kind of a motive the defendants had in the crime.

Musa Pliev believes that due to the above fact the trial is conducted behind closed doors. Earlier, a representative of the court stated that the closed regime of the process was caused by the fact that the final volume of 101 volumes available in the case was a secret one.

Musa Pliev and his clients Murad and Timur Kortoev are puzzled by insistence of the panel of judges to appoint one more lawyer for them.

The lawyer says that at the hearing his client stands up and declares that he does not want to get an appointed lawyer, and the judge says that the lawyer will be appointed.

"After that, we have filed an official motion. Our motion was dismissed, and we were told that an additional lawyer would be present. We have filed a challenge to the lawyer due to the fact that his position and the defendant's position contradicted each other. Our motion was again dismissed; unfortunately, the law stipulates that we cannot appeal against the dismissal to challenge the lawyer. We can do that only when the verdict would be appealed," Musa Pliev stated.