Balkar Council of Elders stands up for convicted village head

The guilt of Vadim Sambursky, a former head of the village of Primalkinskoe, who was fined for abuse of power, has not been proved, the elders have stated in their appeal to the Supreme Court (SC) of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR). They asked to objectively consider the case, treating it as far-fetched.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 28, 2018, the court acquitted Vadim Sambursky, declaring him innocent of abuse of power. In May 2019, the SC of the KBR sent his case for a new trial.

According to investigators, a resident of the town of Prokhladny had made a deposit to participate in the auction and, after winning it, signed a land lease agreement with the head of the village of Primalkinskoe for seven years. On the same day, the winner of the auction asked to terminate the contract, and the deposit was returned to him. Investigators treated it as a detriment to the local budget.

The Council of Elders of the Balkar people has stated that the villagers were outraged by law enforcers' actions who convicted the man "out of nowhere."

They have treated the investigators' version about the harm caused by Sambursky by cancelling the land lease agreement as far-fetched. No harm was caused, the citizen returned the land on the same day he received it, and the deposit was also returned to him, the elders' appeal says.