At the trial on Nalchik attack, defendants challenge the court

Today, the defendants in the criminal case on the attack on power agencies of Kabardino-Balkaria on October 13, 2005, have challenged the court. The court retired to the consultation room. The decision on the claimed challenge will be announced tomorrow.

The hearings on the criminal case on the attack on Nalchik have resumed at the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria today at 11:00 a.m. The case is considered by a panel of three professional judges.

After the procedure of defendants' identification, the chair of the court Galina Gorislavskaya asked the defendants about their challenges and petitions. The latter challenged the whole of the court under the argument that in March 2008 they stated their right to have the case considered by a jury. A respective statement was them adopted, which was cancelled by nobody.

Advocate Magomed Abubakarov said: "I've supported the petition, although I understand that it will be rejected by the court. The defendants insist on consideration of their case by a jury. This is their legitimate right."

According to Mr Abubakarov, according to the Code of Criminal Procedure, the grounds for challenge of the court can be relative ties of judges with the parties in the trial, or some other personal interest. Since there are no such facts, the challenge will be rejected. In his opinion, the defendants' reference to the fact that the decision to cancel the jury in this case was appealed against to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation cannot be the basis for challenging the court.