Defence of Chechen natives accused of assaulting a policeman appeals against their arrest at MCC

The advocates of Timirlan Tsatsaev and Aslan Kautarov, accused of assaulting a Moscow policeman, have challenged the decision of the Nikulino District Court of Moscow to extend their clients' custody. A respective complaint was filed on December 25 at the Moscow City Court (MCC). The advocates assert that the detainees have indisputable alibi.

The above two natives of Chechnya, Tsatsaev, 21, and Kautarov, 22, are suspected of an armed assault on a Moscow policeman. They were detained; and the court ruled to keep them in custody until December 28. Their relatives and advocates assert that the detainees have alibi, and that they were tortured by the police.

One of the advocates, Risalat Andisova, demands, in the appeal against the decision of the Nikulino Court lodged to the MCC on December 25, to cancel the court decision, since "the court's conclusions are not supported by the proofs, considered at the session." In her comments to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent Andisova said that "the court failed to consider the circumstances that could significantly affect the court's conclusions."

She reported that there are serious contradictions in the testimonies of the victim, available in the materials of the criminal case.

The defence also argues that at the moment of the offense, Tsatsaev and Kautarov were in the police room of the Moscow State University. According to Andisova, from 2:15 to 3:56 a.m. Moscow time Kautarov and Tsatsaev have alibi.

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