Russia's Supreme Court upholds verdict against brother and sister Magmadov; their lawyers prepare complaint to ECtHR

The Supreme Court of Russia have twice considered complaints filed by lawyers against the verdict of guilty pronounced by the Moscow Regional Court against Apti Magmadov and Aishat Magmadova, convicted in the case on promoting terrorism, and dismissed them. The lawyers of brother and sister Magmadov prepare a complaint to the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

On December 26, 2011, the Moscow Regional Court sentenced Apti Magmadov to 6 years and Aishat Magmadova to 2 years of imprisonment at a common security colony on charges of promoting terrorism and creation of illegal armed formations (IAF). With the sentence, Aishat was to be released in less than a month after its issuance. The lawyers have stated that as soon as this happens, they will appeal against the verdict. On January 18, Aishat was released, and after that, the lawyers filed the appeal.

On March 6, the session of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation was postponed, and on March 14, the judicial division of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upheld the verdict of the lower court instance and dismissed the complaints filed by the lawyers.

The Court upheld the sentence pronounced by the Moscow Regional Court to convicted Apti Magmadov, and the verdict against his sister Aishat Magmadova was also recognized as the legitimate and reasonable one.

Aishat Magmadova was present at the courtroom of the Supreme Court, since she had already served her term 2 years of imprisonment at general regime prison during the investigation and trial. Apti Magmadov was also brought to the Supreme Court and participated in the court session together with his defenders. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by an employee of the press service of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Despite the decision of the judicial division of the Supreme Court, the lawyers of brother and sister Magmadov are already preparing the complaint to the Presidium of the Supreme Court and to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Musa Khadisov, the lawyer of the convicted brother and sister. According to him, the defence points out in the complaints the same main arguments, which had been mentioned in the complaints filed to the Supreme Court.