Advocates to challenge Murtazaliev's in absentia arrest

Sagid Murtazaliev, the head of the Dagestani branch of the Russian Pension Fund, was arrested in absentia for two months by the Basmanny Court of Moscow. His defence asked to leave him at large on bail of 5 million roubles; however, the court ruled in favour of investigators.

The newspaper "Kommersant" writes that the attempt of Murtazaliev's defence to keep him at large under a large bail has failed.

At the court session, the advocates Shamil Abdullaev and Sergey Bulaev stated that their client may need a new surgery. They asked the court to postpone the consideration of his arrest in absentia until Murtazaliev would come to Moscow.

Judge Elena Lenskaya answered to this that the court had already repeatedly postponed its sessions under defence's motions.

The charges brought against Murtazaliev are based solely on testimonies of two Kizlyar militants – Yusup Gasanov and Pakhrudin Akhmedov, convicted in Dagestan for terrorism and murder attempts, said the advocates. They believe that their client had been slandered; and did not exclude the presence of political motive in the case.

The advocates offered the court to leave Murtazaliev at large under the bail from 500,000 to 5 million roubles. However, the judge still ruled to arrest Murtazaliev in absentia for two months, after which the advocates said that they would appeal against the ruling.

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