MCC dismisses defence's motion to disqualify prosecutor in case of Anna Politkovskaya's murder

Today, the defence of the defendants accused of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, an observer of the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta", has demanded to disqualify Prosecutor Maria Semenenko from the trial, accusing her of using inadmissible evidence and personal interest in the outcome of the case. The Moscow City Court (MCC) has dismissed the defence's motion.

The motion to disqualify the Prosecutor from the trial was filed by advocate Saidakhmed Arsamerzaev. The advocate has justified the motion by the fact that Maria Semenenko had read out the protocol of identification of one of the defendants by a witness that was required by the defence to be recognized as inadmissible evidence obtained with procedural violations. Judge Pavel Melekhin did not consider the arguments of the defence as justified and accepted the protocol for consideration with the participation of the jury.

Besides, advocates have accused Maria Semenenko of her personal interest in the outcome of the case. The public Prosecutor herself has categorically rejected those accusations. "I support the prosecution in accordance with the law," said Maria Semenenko with confidence.

Judge Pavel Melekhin has found no grounds for disqualification of Maria Semenenko and dismissed the motion filed by Saidakhmed Arsamerzaev.