12:59, 22 January 2016

Rights defender states violation of Kudaev's rights at first-instance court

Rasul Kudaev. Photo: http://golosislama.com/news.php?id=26147

On January 21, the Russia's Supreme Court (SC) continued the appeal consideration of the case on the attack on Nalchik. The next session is scheduled for January 25. The defendant Rasul Kudaev, sentenced to life imprisonment, has an alibi, but his rights were violated by the first-instance court, said the rights defender Oleg Orlov.

The attack on Nalchik was committed on October 13, 2005, and resulted in killing of 35 power agents, 14 civilians and 92 attackers. The trial was conducted by the SC of Kabardino-Balkaria since 2008. On December 23, 2014, a guilty verdict was announced. Five defendants were awarded life sentences, three were released with account of the served terms; and the rest were sentenced to the terms from 9 to 23 years in prison. Then, 48 out of 52 convicts filed appeal complaints.

Oleg Orlov, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" told the "Caucasian Knot" that already at the first instance, "it was clearly and understandably shown that Rasul Kudaev did not participate in any activities related to the attack on the state bodies of Kabardino-Balkaria in Nalchik."

"He has a pretty convincing alibi; and a violation against him was at least in the fact that the court failed to question all witnesses, on whom the defence had insisted. His alibi was confirmed even without further questioning of witnesses. Apart from slandering him by other people, who afterwards mostly abandoned their testimonies as given under torture, there is no evidence of his guilt," said Orlov.

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

Source: CK correspondent