Chechnya's SC upholds verdict to Geriev

Today, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Chechen Republic has announced its decision on the case of Zhalaudi Geriev, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent: the conviction passed by the Shali District Court of Chechnya was upheld.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 5 Geriev was sentenced to three years in colony on charges of possessing marijuana. At the trial at the Shali District Court – the first-instance court – he completely refuted the investigators' version and stated that he had testified under pressure. On December 27, during the debates at the SC of Chechnya, Geriev and his advocates asked to cancel the sentence.

At the announcement of the SC's decision, the courtroom was full of people – Geriev's friends and relatives, rights defenders, journalists and students of law department of Grozny higher schools.

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