23:27, 23 May 2014

In Chechnya, three law enforcers questioned by court on Kutaev's case

The lawyer Pyotr Zaikin (to the left) near the building of Urus-Martan District Court. Chechnya, May 23, 2014. Photo by Magomed Magomedov for the "Caucasian Knot"

At the trial of Ruslan Kutaev, the President of the "Assembly of Caucasian Nations", accused of storing drugs, three law enforcers were interrogated as witnesses for the prosecution, said the lawyer Pyotr Zaikin.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Ruslan Kutaev was detained in the village of Gekhi, Urus-Martan District, on February 20. According to rights defenders, he was tortured.

"On Friday, May 23, the court questioned two operative agents and an employee of a private security firm, who, in their words, took part in detention of Ruslan Kutaev. I emphasize that they took part in the detention only in their words, but we have some doubts. They told nothing unexpected, but gave grounds to our doubts," said Kutaev's advocate.

So far, the lawyer Zaikin refused to specify the inconsistencies he noticed in witnesses' testimonies. The court will question two more witnesses for the prosecution and then start questioning the witnesses for the defence, he has added.

Source: CK correspondent