Defence challenges verdicts to Cheldiev and two other activists

Appeal complaints have been sent to the courts against the sentences passed to Vadim Cheldiev, Arsen Besolov and Ramis Chirkinov, convicted for organizing riots at a rally in Vladikavkaz, their advocates have announced.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 19, the Rostov Regional Court sentenced Vadim Cheldiev to 10 years in a high-security colony, finding him guilty of inciting extremism. Two other defendants, Arsen Besolov and Ramis Chirkinov, were sentenced to eight years in prison each. Their advocates promised to challenge the verdicts.

Batraz Kulchiev, an advocate for Cheldiev, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he submitted the appeal on July 29. He described Cheldiev's health condition as "normal." "There is no pressure on him," the advocate has added.

The complaints against Besolov's and Chirkinov's verdicts have also been filed, their advocate, Kamilla Dzotsieva, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "The appeals have been filed with the Third Court of Appeal," she has explained.

The Cheldiev's defence insists on his full acquittal, Batraz Kulchiev told the "Caucasian Knot" on July 20. Kamilla Dzotsieva then explained that at the trial, witnesses and victims failed to confirm the version about the rioters' coordinated actions, but indicated that these were actions "in response to law enforcers' actions, who were forcing people out of the square." The three defendants did not personally know each other and met only at the trial, after a year in custody, Ms Dzotsieva told the "Caucasian Knot".

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 1, 2022 at 07:26 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.