Judicial hearing on Nalchik attack postponed again in Kabardino-Balkaria

The preliminary hearing on the criminal case about the attack on Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, committed on October 13, 2005, scheduled on today is postponed till November 15.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by advocate Magomed Abubakarov who is representing at the trial the interests of defendant Rasul Kudaev.

It was planned that today's session would discuss and make a decision on the trial by jury.

For different reasons, some advocates were replaced, and those already in the process received new defendants. The newcomers petitioned to postpone the preliminary hearing since they need time for getting acquainted with the materials of the criminal case.

Mr Abubakarov also said that the defenders are still prohibited to approach their clients.

"Already at this stage the defendants' rights for legal defence are broken. The ban on contacts of an advocate with his client is a violation of the Constitution, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the European Convention on Human Rights," Magomed Abubakarov said.

He added that the judge disregards advocates' applications that they are prohibited from communicating with their clients during session breaks; in his opinion, this is an evidence of the judge's prejudiced position.