At trial, witness refutes official version of Ruslan Kutaev's detention, advocate asserts

Today, at the trial in the case against Ruslan Kutaev, President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, accused of drug possession, a prosecution witness has given testimony, which conflicts with the official version on the circumstances of the detention of human rights defender. This was reported by advocate Pyotr Zaikin.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 20, Ruslan Kutaev was detained in the village of Gekhi of the Urus-Martan District. According to human rights defenders, he was tortured. On April 25, the Urus-Martan City Court started to consider the case against Ruslan Kutaev.

"When questioned, the witness has explained that Ruslan Kutaev was detained not in the street, but directly in the house which he was visiting as a guest. No one searched him. Policemen in uniform immediately forced him into their car and drove him away," Pyotr Zaikin has said. The advocate has added that the testimony given by the witness challenged the version of the circumstances of the Ruslan Kutaev's detention set forth in the indictment.

According to the indictment, on February 20, Ruslan Kutaev was accidentally detained by patrol policemen in the village of Gekhi of the Urus-Martan District. Law enforcers searched him and found drugs in the pocket of his trousers.

The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for June 20.

See earlier reports: "HRW demands to release President of "Assembly of Caucasian Nations" detained in Chechnya", "Resident of Ingushetia is in intensive care after questioning and suicide attempt, says his brother", "Dagestani native suspected of involvement in IAFs in Syria".