05:00, 12 April 2013

Dubrovina: convicts on Merekha case demand complete verdict cancellation

The defence of the convicts for torture – ex-employees of the Predgorny ROVD (District Interior Division) – asks to completely overturn the verdict of the first instance – the Predgorny District Court of Stavropol Territory – and to find them innocent, said Marina Dubrovina, the advocate of Vyacheslav Merekha.

The former employees of the Predgorny ROVD have been charged of beating and torturing, on December 15, 2010, Vyacheslav Merekha, the detained resident of the farm of Kalaborka, as a result of which he became disabled. On February 13, the Predgorny District Court sentenced Sergey Petrov, Nikolai Kryazhov, Vadim Akhmedov and Alexei Golovachov to prison terms ranging from 3 to 6 years. On February 26 they lodged a complaint against the verdict to the Stavropol Territorial Court.

On April 4, the Stavropol Territorial Court began considering the cassation complaint.

The court session on April 11 announced the complaints against the sentence – on the part of the convicts, and on the part of Mr Merekha advocates. The next session was scheduled for April 18.

Author: Karina Gadjieva

Source: CK correspondent