19:18, 9 June 2014

Defence of Said Amirov points to discrepancies in testimonies of prosecution witnesses

Amirov's advocate Vladimir Postanyuk giving speech in the court. Rostov-on-Don, June 6, 2014. Photo by Oleg Pchelov for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Today, in Rostov-on-Don, at the trial of Said Amirov, the temporarily dismissed Mayor of Makhachkala, accused of preparing a terror act, Fanid Alibaev and Gennady Grishin were questioned. They acted as witnesses at the confiscation of the man-portable air defence system (MANPADS). Vladimir Postanyuk, one of Amirov's advocates, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that there were discrepancies in their testimonies.

According to investigators, Said Amirov and his nephew Yusup Djaparov had planned to use the MANPADS to shoot down a passenger plane, which was supposed to carry Saigid Murtazaliev, the head of the Russia's Pension Fund in Dagestan. The defendants argue that they have nothing to do with the above weapon and refuse to plead guilty.

"Despite the hinting and prompting questions of the prosecution, which the defence asked the court to reject, the above witnesses mixed up their testimonies," Postanyuk told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent after the today's court session, adding that "state prosecutors continue doing everything for us, since the discrepancies in testimonies of these witnesses indicate the insolvency and far-fetched nature of the charges."

See earlier reports: In Rostov-on-Don, court leaves dismissed Makhachkala Mayor Said Amirov in custody, Said Amirov questioned in Rostov-on-Don, Rostov-on-Don: court questions four defence witnesses in Said Amirov's case.

Author: Oleg Pchelov

Source: CK correspondent