Suspect of murdering Yegor Sviridov gets "yellow mark"

Mother of Aslan Cherkesov, the main suspect of murdering Yegor Sviridov, is furious that her son, who is kept in the SIZO (pre-trial prison) "Matrosskaya Tishina" (meaning "Sailors' Silence") was awarded a "yellow mark". The bosses of the facility give no explanation on why the mark appeared in Cherkesov's personal file.

"This mark is given to a detainee, who is making scandals, commits unworthy acts and tends to runaway," Sonia Cherkesova complained.

The woman believes that this mark was given to her son after he expressed his intention to sue Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for disseminating information discrediting his honour and dignity in the media.

"Mr Putin announced to the whole world that my son is a recidivist and drug addict. Wasn't it that after that my son received the mark?! Aslan wants the Prime Minister to publicly refute this false information," said Ms Cherkesova.

Aslan relatives are concerned that this "mark" may play a negative role when passing a sentence by the court.

Investigator Sergey Ostapyuk, who runs Yegor Sviridov's murder case, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he knew nothing about the "mark": "I don't know what this mark means, and what it has to do with Cherkesov."

Dmitry Pankov, Aslan Cherkesov's advocate, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the "yellow mark" indicates the suspect's propensity to escape; it is entered into his personal file with the aim to reinforce his convoy and introduce additional restrictions on his custody mode.

"Nobody coordinates this decision with inspectors; they are not notified - this is the internal matter of SIZO bosses," said lawyer Pankov.

"The SIZO boss couldn't explain to me, why the mark had appeared in Cherkesov's case," he continued. "I was told that it was done on the basis of received operative data."

The advocate does not share the fear of Cherkesov's relatives that the mark may affect the decision of the court: "Nobody will know about it at the trial; it will not be discussed there."

Dmitry Pankov suggests that the "yellow mark" could have been awarded to his client for the own safety of the latter: "I think they've just reinsured themselves. When Aslan was kept in SIZO No. 5, information was spread that someone wanted to kill him."

The lawyer has confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that his client had filed a lawsuit against Putin. "Everyone understands that the Premier has immunity; and his trial is impossible. Aslan had probably done it with the aim to draw the court's attention to this fact," he supposed.