14 October 2014, 21:50
In KBR, Zaur Tokhov sentenced on charges of aiding and abetting militants pleads not guilty
Zaur Tokhov, a resident of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), who has been sentenced on charges of aiding and abetting militants, pleads not guilty. He has appealed to human rights defenders and the Ombudsman asking to help him.
On August 8, 2014, the Zolskoe District Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) found Zaur Tokhov, a resident of the village of Kamennomostkoe of the Zolskoe District, guilty of illegal possession of weapons and drugs and of aiding and abetting militants. At present, Zaur Tokhov is kept at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of Nalchik.
In his appeal, 34-year-old Zaur Tokhov argues that he was sentenced "on trumped-up charges." According to Zaur Tokhov, he was forced to sign his confession under torture.
The KBR's Human Rights Centre (HRC) together with the KBR's Ombudsman in Kabardino-Balkaria and the Commission on adaptation takes steps to help Zaur Tokhov, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Zaur Shokuev, a lawyer of the KBR's HRC.
"We’ve recommended an advocate for Zaur Tokhov. At present, we are waiting for reconsideration of his case by the Supreme Court of the KBR. We hope that he will be treated impartially," Zaur Shokuev has said.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Lyudmila Maratova Source: CK correspondent
