23 November 2016, 11:30
Defence tries twice to challenge Geriev's judges
The today's session of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Chechen Republic, which considered the complaint against the sentence to Zhalaudi Geriev, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, began with the defence's motion, which demanded to disqualify the whole court composition. The motion was rejected.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Chechen SC is considering, since November 15, the complaint against the verdict to Zhalaudi Geriev, passed by the Shali District Court on September 5. At the November 22 session, the court rejected the defence's motions demanding to disqualify first the presiding judge, and then – the whole composition of the court.
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. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has recognized Geriev to be a political prisoner.
The today's session started with the consideration of the motion demanding to disqualify the whole staff of the court, lodged by the advocate Alaudi Musaev. The court has refused to uphold the motion.
Then, Musaev re-demanded a challenge of all the judges. The prosecutor spoke against it, saying that he saw not a single reason for the challenge.
The court retired to the deliberation room.
Let us remind you that on November 22, Alaudi Musaev demanded to disqualify the presiding judge Dmitri Gorbovtsov, and then – the whole composition of the panel, after another Geriev's advocate, Nadezhda Ermolaeva, said that Gorbovtsov was a candidate for the deputy chairman of the Chechen SC. In order to get the post, Gorbovtsov should convict Geriev. She had received this information from an anonymous sender by email.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
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