Defence points to bias of trial of Ingush activists

More than half of the prosecution witnesses in the case of Ingush activists have abandoned their claims against the defendants; however, everything develops towards a guilty verdict to be passed by the court, said Djabrail Kuriev, an advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the case of Zarifa Sautieva and six other leaders of Ingush protests, accused of creating an extremist community, has been considered since November 24, 2020.

On May 18, the fighters of "Rosgvardia" (Russian National Guard), who acted as prosecution witnesses, when answering the questions of the judge and advocates, stated that they knew none of the defendants; they had not seen any of them at the rally, and they had no claims against the defendants, Djabrail Kuriev, an advocate, has stated.

According to his story, the prosecution declared 67 witnesses, the overwhelming majority of whom are in the status of victims; and all of them testify in favour of the defence. They also deny any violence against them used by activists.

During the Uraza-Bayram (Eid al-Fitr), all the seven defendants, despite their illnesses, were fasting. Visits to them were not allowed; and relatives worried about their health in custody, said a member of the Ingush Council of Teips (family clans). In particular, an advocate of Malsag Uzhakhov told about the deteriorating of his client's health.