At trial on case against policemen who beat teenagers in Chegem, court decides on compulsory summoning of witnesses

In Kabardino-Balkaria, at the court session on the criminal case of beating and torture of two teenagers, prosecution witnesses gave their testimonies. The court has pronounced the decision on compulsory summoning of the witnesses, who failed to appear at the court. This was reported by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 3, at the rally against the law enforcers' tyranny, Zamir Bekshokov, a resident of the town of Chegem, reported on the beating at the Chegem ROVD (District Interior Division). According to Zamir Bekshokov, in the evening of October 12, 2012, his 16-year-old son Murat and 14-year-old Asker Kursakov were approached in the street by three policemen, who began to beat the teenagers. Later, the policemen brought the teenagers to the Chegem ROVD, where they continued to beat the boys and did not allow them to call their family members.

According to the indictment, former and current staff members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) beat and tortured minors Asker Kursakov and Murat Bekshokov, trying to force them to confess to their involvement in the underground.

At the court session held on November 27, three staff members of the Republican Clinical Hospital were questioned as prosecution witnesses. This was reported by the press release of the HRC "Memorial" received by the "Caucasian Knot".

The court has determined to subject the absent witnesses to the compulsory summoning and scheduled the next court session for December 25.