Stavropol Territory: preliminary hearing on Merekha's case scheduled for August 22

On August 22, the Predgorny District Court of the Stavropol Territory will hold a preliminary hearing on the criminal case opened against former district militiamen, accused of using violence to Vyacheslav Merekha, a local resident.

"The case will be considered by Judge Nina Turlaeva; a preliminary hearing on the case is scheduled for August 22 at 10:00 a.m.," said the office for criminal cases of the above District Court.

As reported by the office, the defendants had not been ever tried before.

According to a prosecutor, who asked not to be named, in the course of the investigation all four suspects rejected their guilt and claimed in their evidences that they did not beat the victim Vyacheslav Merekha, but – on the contrary – saved his life, having found him in helpless condition and taken to hospital.

All of the defendants will stay under home arrest till sentencing.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the Fund "Public Verdict", where Vyacheslav Merekha turned for legal assistance on January 28, "specialists of the Fund achieved a comprehensive, full and objective investigation of the criminal case on the fact of using violence against the detainee."