North Ossetia: investigator of the General Prosecutor's Office beats an advocate

On August 27, 2007, in Vladikavkaz, in the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of North Ossetia, Victor Pereverznev, investigator of the State Office of Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation thrashed advocate Irina Kodzaeva.

Ms Kodzaeva lodged an application on the incident to the MIA of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (RNO-A). On that very day she addressed the Republic's Clinical Hospital where she was examined by the neurosurgeon on duty who diagnosed: brain concussion. In the evening of that day, employees of the Iriston District Interior Department (ROVD) came to Ms Kozdoeva's home and took her explanations of what had happened. On the following day, an examination was held.

After the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" had learnt about it, a correspondent appeal was sent to the General Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation with a demand to bring investigator V. Pereverznev and his colleagues from the investigatory group to responsibility. So far, no answer has arrived from the State Office of Public Prosecutor.

In the meantime it has become known, that investigator V. Pereverznev was removed from Vladikavkaz to Yessentuki in anticipation of a new appointment. In his turn, he has also sent an application to the bodies of the Prosecutor's Office asserting that Irina Kodzaeva was the first to attack him - a man of athletic built about two meters high.

On September 4, the HRC "Memorial" delivered an application on the fact of beating the advocate by the investigator of the General Prosecutor's Office and her non-admittance to her client to V. P. Lukin, Ombudsman of the Russian Federation.