23 June 2012, 22:00
Lawyers: verdict to Evloev in Dagestan showed jury's competence in IAF cases
The acquittal of Sergey Evloev, accused of involvement in an illegal armed formation (IAF), banditry and attacks on law enforcer has proved the legitimacy and competence of jurors, Dagestani lawyers assert.
The 19-year-old resident of Makhachkala Sergey Evloev was detained on July 27, 2011, by employees of the Lenin ROVD (District Interior Division) of the capital of Dagestan on suspicion of illegal arms possessing. On April 27 his trial by jury began. On June 20, the jurors found Sergey Evloev innocent. The sentencing is scheduled for June 25.
The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Ziyavudin Uvaisov, Sergey Evloev's advocate, that it was an expected decision because "the innocence of his client was fully proved." He has added that should the case have been considered by a single judge, the acquittal would have been in doubt.
The Dagestani branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" said they believed the jury's verdict was fair. "We've followed the development of the trial," said Elena Denisenko, the head of the branch.
The Prosecutor's Office criticizes the jurors' verdict. They are often "biased and show the jurymen's legal illiteracy," a source from the Office told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
According to his story, the jurors "can disregard the evidences available in the case; they are guided by emotions, not by the law."
Author: Karina Gadzhieva Source: CK correspondent
