Defence explains advantages of CER for Titiev

Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", will be able to apply for the conditional early relief (CER) in seven weeks if he does not appeal against his verdict. The CER will allow him to continue working in Chechnya or in any other region of Russia, Pyotr Zaikin, an advocate, and Oleg Orlov, a board member of the HRC "Memorial" have explained.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 18, the court sentenced Titiev to four years in colony, having found him guilty of drug possession. Western diplomats blamed Russia for using the police and the court for political persecutions.

Pyotr Zaikin, an advocate, has noted that the custody conditions in a colony-settlement are much better than at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) or a correctional colony: a convict may take books and medicines with him, and go in for sports. "Inmates live in hostels; sometimes they may even rent an apartment and live outside the colony. There are no tough conditions that could create domestic inconveniences," Mr Zaikin has explained.

The expediency of appealing against the verdict has to do with the fact that Titiev has the right to be released on CER already in May – on May 9, 2019, it will be 16 months of deprivation of his freedom, and then Titiev will have the right to apply for CER.

Under CER, the convict is not subject to additional penalties or restrictions – he can go to any region and engage in any permitted activity there, said the advocate, adding that Titiev's health condition during his stay at the SIZO broke down.