At trial in Ruslan Kutaev's case, witness confirms version of defence, advocate asserts

At the trial in the case against of Ruslan Kutaev, President of the Assembly of Peoples of the Caucasus, the court has listened to a defence witness. His testimony has confirmed the defence version that the detention of Ruslan Kutaev in the village of Gekhi of the Urus-Martan District of Chechnya was a pre-planned operation. 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. He was charged with drug possession. According to human rights defenders, he was tortured. On June 19, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" recognized Ruslan Kutaev as a political prisoner.

At the court hearing held on June 20, the testimony was given by a defence witness, a relative of the defendant. He was an eyewitness to the events that occurred on the eve of the detention of the human rights defender. This was reported by the advocate.

"At the trial, it has been revealed that on February 19, policemen visited the Ruslan Kutaev's house. They were looking for the human rights defender. Having found a Ruslan Kutaev's younger brother at home, they detained him and brought him to the Achkhoi-Martan police station. There, they tried to find out the Ruslan's whereabouts," Pyotr Zaikin has stated.

"Despite the policemen's allegations that they have accidentally detained Ruslan Kutaev in the village of Gekhi and that the detention is in no way connected with the events occurring in the republic, the testimony given by the witness proves it has been an operation planned in advance," the advocate has concluded.

See earlier reports: "HRC "Memorial": at Kutaev's trial, prosecution witness claims falsification of his testimony", "At trial, witness refutes official version of Ruslan Kutaev's detention, advocate asserts", "HRW demands to release President of "Assembly of Caucasian Nations" detained in Chechnya".