In Anzor Shibzukhov's case, defence claims pressure on secret witness from law enforcers

According to advocates, the testimony given by a secret witness in the case against Anzor Shibzukhov, a former staff member of the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) for Kabardino-Balkaria, accused of aiding and abetting members of an illegal armed formation (IAF), is not valid and should be excluded from the case materials.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Anzor Shibzukhov is accused of aiding and abetting militants and drug and weapons trafficking. Relatives and advocates of Anzor Shibzukhov believe that ammunition and drugs were planted during a search of his house. The defendant claimed that he had confessed to the crime under torture. On November 6, at the trial, the secret witness refused to disclose his personal data at the court's request.

On November 18, the Baksan District Court of Kabardino-Balkaria continued questioning the secret witness in the Anzor Shibzukhov's case.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by advocate Ramzan Uzuev that the secret witness was brought to the court hearing by a law enforcer, involved in the case as a witness for the prosecution.

According to the defence, the situation indicates the pressure on the witness. Besides, the advocate has noted that under the Criminal Procedure Code, the witness testimony is inadmissible as qualifying the prosecution.

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