Alan Parastaev lodged a cassation complaint to the Supreme Court of South Ossetia

On May 15, Alan Parastaev, a citizen of South Ossetia, who was sentenced on charges of an attempt on President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity and high treason, lodged a cassation complaint to the Supreme Court of the Republic of South Ossetia with a demand to reconsider the verdict.

"After consideration of this cassation complaint, the court will disclose the materials of the case, and we'll present all the information on this case to mass media," said Teimuraz Khugaev, General Public Prosecutor of South Ossetia, in press conference on May 16 in answer the question of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about the Parastaev's case.

Alan Parastaev was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment. However, his advocates objected to the verdict and lodged a cassation complaint to the Supreme Court of the Republic of South Ossetia.

Yuri Vazagov, a journalist of the "South Ossetia" newspaper, who visited Parastaev on May 9 in his prison in Tskhinvali, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the prisoner had no complaints on bad custody conditions.

He has also noted that Mr Parastaev receives the necessary health services. However, he had refused to give interview to the journalist of "South Ossetia", having referred to bad health condition.

The "Caucasian Knot" has informed earlier that former Chairman of the Supreme Court of South Ossetia Alan Parastaev was arrested in Tskhinvali on November 12, 2006.

During the investigation, he pled guilty of taking part organizing the attempt ordered by special services of Georgia. However, Igor Mikheyev, convict's defender, has stated that the confession was made under pressure.

In particular, according to Mr Mikheyev, Parastaev was beaten. "I've got photos made on the fourth day after beating, where all the traces are seen in colour," the lawyer has emphasized.

On August 5, 2007, the Strasbourg Court for Human Rights accepted for consideration an application filed by citizen of Russia Alan Parastaev. The advocate has also informed that the application will be considered by the Court in the priority order.