00:56, 8 November 2016

Defenders of Kurman-Ali Baichorov question testimony given by key witness

Kurman-Ali Baichorov. Photo by Magomed Magomedov for the "Caucasian Knot"

The Stavropol Regional Court has questioned criminal investigator Nikolai Zavyalikov, whom the defenders of Kislovodsk Imam Kurman-Ali Baichorov treat as the initiator of the criminal proceedings against the religious leader. The Imam's advocates have questioned the testimony given by the above witness, which were refuted at the trail by his former colleague.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 23, the judicial board on criminal cases of the Stavropol Regional Court proceeded to re-consideration of the appeal field against the Kurman-Ali Baichorov's sentence. On September 27, the Court began questioning witnesses.

In January 2015, Kurman-Ali Baichorov was sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment on the charge of drug trafficking. The Imam claimed that the drugs were planted to him.

The court also questioned Ismail-Khadji Berdiev, Mufti of Karachay-Cherkessia. The witness explained that Kurman-Ali Baichorov had been his deputy for a long time. The Mufti of Karachay-Cherkessia also commented on the concept of Islam, professed by Kurman-Ali Baichorov.

The Court also examined the acts of destruction of drugs, in which the defenders saw a possible forgery.

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

Author: Magomed Tuaev

Source: CK correspondent