Defendants in Nalchik attack case to remain in custody for other three months

Today, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria extended for other three months the detention of 53 defendants in the case of the militants' attack on Nalchik committed on October 13, 2005. Kazbek Budtuev, Zalim Ulimbashev, and Sergey Kaziev face extension of the earlier pronounced pre-trial restriction – recognizance not to leave.

The court ruling, in particular, states: "After discussing all the arguments, the court decided as follows: each of the 53 defendants accused of grave and especially grave crimes, while being released, might escape or put pressure on the court."

"The arguments for the pre-trial restrictions have not been cancelled and not been declared unlawful," the court stated.

Keeping in custody as pre-trial restriction has been extended for the 53 defendants till June 26, 2012.

The defendant Tukhuzhev, who was earlier removed for violation of the order till the end of the trial, was brought to the courtroom. After the court ruling was read, Galina Gorislavskaya, Judge of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, who chaired the trial, asked watchmen to remove Tukhuzhev from the courtroom.

The case against another defendant Sarabi Seyunov was formed into separated proceedings because of his illness with pulmonary tuberculosis. At present, Sarabi Seyunov undergoes medical treatment at the hospital of the Department of the Russian Federal Correction Service (known as "UFSIN") in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.