Three advocates in Kislovodsk Imam's case join his hunger strike

Three advocates of Kurman-Ali Baichorov, the Imam of Kislovodsk engaged in the case have made a decision to support the hunger strike. The advocates claim the unprecedented violation of the defendant's rights and declare the need to draw the attention of the federal government to the situation in the Predgorny District Court of the Stavropol Territory.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 22, Kurman-Ali Baichorov declared a hunger strike and claimed the Court violated his right to defence. Kurman-Ali Baichorov pleads not guilty. His supporters associate criminal proceedings against the Imam with his rigid position concerning mosques in Kislovodsk, where the authorities banned their construction.

On October 25, Adam Abubakarov, an advocate of Kurman-Ali Baichorov, joined the hunger strike. The advocate called the Court's action as "criminal and unlawful". Adam Abubakarov stated he made a decision on such an extreme measure when the Judge attempted to prematurely skip to the pleadings.

Today, three advocates from the branch No. 1 of the Karachay-Cherkessian Advocates' Association join the case against Kurman-Ali Baichorov, accused of drug trafficking. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by advocate Taulan Ebzeev.

The advocates have decided to support the protest action of their colleague Adam Abubakarov and also declared the hunger strike.

"We have no other way to draw attention of the authorities to the situation, including the attention of the Russian President," Taulan Ebzeev has stated.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.