Participant of detention of figurant of “caliphate case” denies torture accusations

Cantemir Zheldashev, a defendant in the case of an attempt to create caliphate in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), had testified voluntarily, a former policeman, who took part in his detention, has told the court. However, another witness has refuted the prosecution's version that Zheldashev was detained in a Nalchik park on April 17, 2014.

On February 21, at the North-Caucasian District Military Court, two defence witnesses gave explanations about the search of Zheldashev, in the course of which prohibited items were found on him, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Andrei Parkhomenko, a janitor of the "Friendship" Park in Nalchik, was interrogated first. He questioned the prosecution's version that Zheldashev had hidden some of the items in a package in the park.

Asker Abubekirov, an ex-policeman, said that during the search Zheldashev himself confessed to him that the package belonged to him, and that a member of the armed underground had given him weapons and ammunition for storage.

However, this witness could not explain why Nuretdin Iskanderov and Ali Musukov, the witnesses of the search, questioned on October 4, 2016, said they did not see a grenade taken away from Zheldashev, and renounced their signatures to the search protocols.

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