Defender of Varvara Karaulova requests to release her from "aquarium cell" for trial

Gadji Aliev, an advocate of Varvara Karaulova, has filed a motion to judges of the Moscow District Military Court to place his client to a prisoners' dock out of a glass "aquarium cell". According to the advocate, even Anders Breivik, a mass murderer, was not placed into a glass cell during the trial.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 5, the Moscow District Military Court began the consideration of the case against Varvara Karaulova (Alexandra Ivanova), accused of attempting to join a terrorist organization in Syria. On November 9, the defendant admitted that she voluntarily communicated with a recruiter of the "Islamic State" (IS, banned in Russia).

"A cell or an 'aquarium cell' degrades human dignity. During the lawsuit 'Khodorkovsky vs. Russia', the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) recognized similar structures in courtrooms as humiliation of honour and dignity," said Gadji Aliev.

The advocate was supported by his colleague Sergey Badamshin. He has noted four guards and bailiffs and bar windows in the courtroom.

Prosecutor Mikhail Reznichenko found no grounds for release of Varvara Karaulova. He has explained that the structure inside which she is contained does not prevent her participation in the trial.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.