Advocate of witness to Murat Borlakov's death claims pressure on his client

Soslan Zhigunov, a witness to the death of Murat Borlakov, a detained resident of Karachay-Cherkessia in the Ust-Djeguta ROVD (District Interior Division), who was questioned at the trial in the case against five policemen, has changed his testimony given at the preliminary investigation stage. Advocate Merzakulov, who represents his interests, claimed pressure on his client.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Murat Karaketov, Rasul Mamchuev, Askhat Laipanov, Kazbek Batchaev, and Taulan Aibazov, staff members of the Ust-Djeguta ROVD, are accused of abuse of power and infliction of grievous bodily harm that resulted in the death of Murat Borlakov, who was brought to the ROVD on February 3, 2014. At the stage of investigation, family members of Murat Borlakov complained about delays of investigation and threats to witnesses. Later, after the case had been brought to the court, they claimed distrust to the panel of judges.

According to advocate Vyacheslav Merzakulov, witness Soslan Zhigunov received death threats against him and his family members and because of that he began to change the testimony he had given at the preliminary investigation stage.

The advocate has prepared a complaint to the Prosecutor's Office of Karachay-Cherkessia, which reports on the facts of pressure on his client by power agents.

Officials from the Ust-Djeguta District Court have reported that the next session was postponed until April 16.

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