Persons accused of attacking the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria question jurymen's neutrality

At the preliminary hearing of the criminal case initiated in relation to the attack on the city of Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, the defendants and their advocates expressed doubts of the objectivity of the jury. The next session will be held on March 25.

Today, at the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria, the defendants have lodged a petition asking to give them time for consultations with their advocates on the jury. Therefore, the next session was appointed on March 25, although originally the Court was going to continue the process tomorrow.

"We've no confidence that the jurymen will escape pressure," said lawyer Magomed Abubakarov, "and that they'll be objective and impartial. It's not an ordinary criminal case. This is a demonstrational and political process."

According to Mr Abubakarov, the verdict passed by a jury is more difficult to protest against, since jurymen never "consider legal issues."

At today's session, a petition to admit public defenders was moved again. However, the Court has rejected it again saying that participation of public defenders will increase the number of participants of this extremely bulky process.