Defence states investigators' interference into Geriev's trial

Without a court's request, the investigating bodies have sent documents to the Supreme Court (SC) of Chechnya, which were added to case files against Zhalaudi Geriev, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, convicted on charges of illegal drug possession, said his advocate. The defence demands to check the legality of such actions of the above bodies.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 5, Geriev was sentenced to three years in colony on charges of possessing marijuana. On December 13, the court prohibited any video recording in the courtroom.

According to the advocate Alaudi Musaev, Geriev and his defence believe that the investigators' statement, which was first sent, in the absence of a court's request, by e-mail to the court, and then delivered to the judge in writing, is intended to "discredit the arguments of the defence and aims to obstruct the justice."

The main points of the complaint lodged by Geriev's defence are built on testimonies of the defence witnesses, who saw the kidnapping of Geriev and planting drugs on him; these eyewitnesses had been questioned at the first-instance court, said the advocate. However, later, these witnesses changed their testimonies under pressure, and, based thereon, investigators refused to open a kidnapping case, the defence asserts.

On December 14, Geriev's defence intends to transfer a complaint to the investigating bodies against two statements on refusal to open a criminal case on Geriev' kidnapping and use of violence against him.

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