Defence in "Domodedovo" case states pressure on defendants by convoy

Convoy guards are regularly insulting and provoking to aggression Bashir Khamkhoev, who is accused of the terror act at the Domodedovo Airport in 2011, said his advocate Tatiana Okushko. Another advocate Vladimir Kocharyan, who is defending another figurant in the case Ilez Yandiev, has also reported about pressure. An employee of the press service of the FSIN (Russian federal Penitentiary Service) refused to comment on the statements of the defence.

Okushko: convoy guards constantly provoke suspects of terror act at "Domodedovo" Airport for inappropriate actions

A concern about the negative attitude of convoy guards to the defendants, whom they accompany to court sessions at the Moscow Regional Court, was expressed by Tatiana Okushko, the advocate of Bashir Khamkhoev, one of the suspects.

"The convoy guards are constantly provoking the suspects of committing the terror act at the "Domodedovo" Airport to inappropriate actions. While escorting them to the trial at the Moscow Regional Court of the Russian Federation and back to SIZO-4 (pre-trial prison) of the Department of the Russian FSIN for Moscow, the guards are constantly, day after day, abusing the defendants and humiliate their human dignity and exert psychological pressure on them," said Tatiana Okushko.

"It's clear why this verbal attack is conducted - any movement of the suspect, even a swing of hands in handcuffs, or a sharp turn towards the guard will be followed at once by response reaction - beating. All this will be qualified as insubordination or attack on the guards," said the lawyer.

According to her story, she is going to lodge a complaint to the prosecutor's office bout the provocative behaviour of the convoy guards in relation to detainees.

Kocharyan: for a month Ilez Yandiev can neither change nor wash his clothes

"The guards are keen not only in verbal abuse. They can push defendants, when they get out of the paddy wagon, or grasp them by the collar," said Vladimir Kocharyan, Ilez Yandiev's advocate.

Vladimir Kocharyan said that a month ago the figurants in the "Domodedovo" case were moved from Lefortovo to SIZO-4. "During all this time, my client can't receive the money transferred to him by his father. By the way, he did it by the terminal, which is installed in the prison. For a month already Ilez Yandiev has been asking to give him his clothes from the warehouse, which is right there - in the SIZO-4. He can't change his clothes. He also can't wash the clothes he is wearing, since he has no money to buy soap, powder and toothpaste at the prison shop. It's just a mockery!" the lawyer was outraged.

FSIN: advocates should contact the Department for Guarding and Convoying

A source from the press service of the FSIN, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he would be able to comment only after the FSIN had studied the essence of the case. And for that purpose the advocates should make a request on this issue to the Department of the FSIN for Guarding and Convoying, he said.