21 June 2018, 23:44
Oyub Titiev's defence denied information about witnesses
The information about the criminal history of the witness and about possible law problems faced by the police witnesses are of key importance in the case against Chechen rights defender Oyub Titiev, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" reports today.
Oyub Titiev has been under arrest on the charge of marijuana possession since January 11.He pleaded not guilty and stated that the drugs were planted on him by a law enforcer. On June 14, the EU Parliament adopted a resolution with a request to free Oyub Titiev from the charges.
Today, the investigator in charge of the Oyub Titiev's criminal case has handed over to advocate Pyotr Zaikin a resolution to dismiss all motions filed by the defendant and his advocates, the HRC "Memorial" reports.
In particular, the investigators refused to provide Oyub Titiev with the information concerning the criminal background of the police witnesses and the prosecution witness.
"In the course of the examination of the materials in his case, Oyub Titiev has learned that the prosecution witness was earlier wanted and had several earlier criminal records, including for illegal drug trafficking," reports the release posted today on the website of the HRC "Memorial".
Furthermore, the investigator has dismissed the defence requests for an examination of the computers at the police department in the Kurchaloi District, where Oyub Titiev was brought on January 9 after his detention.
"Answers to the questions about the criminal history of the witness, about the fact whether the police witnesses had been earlier brought to criminal responsibility, as well as answer to the questions with whom and when the police witnesses spoke on the phone before, during and after the detention of Oyub Titiev, and examination of the computers at the police department in the Kurchaloi District ‑ all that could prove Oyub Titiev was not guilty," emphasized the statement released by the HRC "Memorial".
The rights defenders have also announced the intention to challenge the refusal to grant the defence motions.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’on June 21, 2018 at 06:19 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
