In Volgograd, trial on case of bribery in GIBDD postponed till July 23

Today, in Volgograd, at the trial on bribery in the GIBDD (road police), during interrogation, witness Nikolai Lazarev retracted his testimony, which he gave at the preliminary investigation. The trial was postponed till July 23 due to vacation of one of the lawyers.

Today, the court was to question six witnesses; however, only one of them came to the trial. According to Judge Alexander Klochkov, one of the witnesses has stated that he is on vacation, and then he will go on business trip to Dagestan for 180 days; another witness has reported that he leaves for Moscow for family reasons; and one more witness "has talked to the secretary in an original manner, saying that it was not his business." "The court will take measures against the participants of the trial, who fail to respond to the notifications of the court," he has promised.

Prior to interrogation of Nikolai Lazarev, Oleg Kirpa said he doubted the testimony of the witness, since, according to him, his earlier testimony "was based on the hypothesis of the investigator." "It was a fantasy, nothing more," he has explained.

However, at the trial, Nikolai Lazarev retracted his earlier testimony. According to him, he received no demands for the transfer of money from the authorities.

Public prosecutor filed a motion to read out the minutes of the preliminary investigation, lawyers and defendants protested against that. The court granted the motion.

The witness was presented the minutes of the interrogation, under which he recognized his signatures. According to Nikolai Lazarev, he cannot explain how he has signed the minutes, the most part of which, according to him, is false.

The judge asked "how at that age, being warned of criminal liability for perjury, the witness signed the text, that he, according to him, did not voiced."

"I read the minutes in a bright mind and memory, and I do not know how that happened," Nikolai Lazarev said.

Judge Alexander Klochkov stated that the witness retracted his testimony by three quarters. According to him, therefore, "the investigator, who questioned him, and other persons, who sent the case to the regional court, may be face questions."

The next court session is scheduled for July 23. Five witnesses are to be interrogated at the court session.

At present, six witnesses retracted their testimonies, given by them during the preliminary investigation. In total, 64 witnesses out of 144 were questioned at the trial on the case of bribery in the GIBDD.