Chechen SC rejects disqualification of judge running Geriev's case

Today, Zhalaudi Geriev, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was taken to the Supreme Court (SC) of the Chechen Republic, where his complaint against the verdict is considered. The court has rejected the defence's motions demanding to disqualify the presiding judge.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 15-16, the SC of Chechnya held sessions to consider the complaint against the verdict to Zhalaudi Geriev passed by the Shali District Court on September 5. Both sessions were held without the defendant. On November 16, Alaudi Musaev, a Geriev's advocate, challenged the presiding judge Dmitri Gorbovtsov. The court scheduled to consider this motion for today.

Zhalaudi Geriev was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of possessing marijuana. At the first-instance court, he completely denied the investigators' version and said that he had testified under pressure.

At today's session, the advocate Musaev presented to the court a notarized document, confirming the receipt by advocate Ermolaeva of a message that Judge Gorbovtsov claim to the post of Deputy Chairman of the Chechnya's SC; and to get a prosecutor's recommendation for this promotion, he had to convict Geriev. This message, received by e-mail from an unknown sender, was presented by Ermolaeva at the previous session, after which Musaev put forward his motion for Gorbovtsov's disqualification.

However, the court has rejected the motion.

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