13:27, 17 September 2013

Court dealing with attack on Nalchik keeps 53 defendants in custody

Today, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria has extended the detention of 53 defendants-figurants in the case of the attack on Nalchik on October 13, 2005, for three months more – until December 26. The four defendants, earlier released on recognizance not to leave, will remain in the same status.

It was expected that at the today's session the defence will start speaking at debate, but the lawyer Tatiana Psomiadi has petitioned for another month for getting ready.

"There was a long speech by the prosecution, where materials were presented, not analyzed earlier by the court. We need more time, at least a month to analyze the prosecutor's performance," said Tatiana Psomiadi.

She added that she could not get into the SIZO (pre-trial prison) to coordinate the position of the defence with her clients.

The chairing judge has argued that advocates had enough time to get ready for the debate. "You should analyze not the prosecutor's speech, but the evidence that has been presented in the courtroom," said the judge.

After that, she postponed the session until Monday, September 23.

Author: Lyudmila Maratova

Source: CK correspondent