04 August 2008, 19:27
Defense appeals against the court ruling on Elista mayor's arrest
The defense lawyers of Radiy Burulov, mayor of Kalmykia capital Elista, have filed a cassation appeal against the Elista city court ruling to place Burulov into custody.
"We have received a cassation appeal against the ruling of July 30 on changing the measure of restraint with regard to Burulov from the undertaking not to leave to placement into custody. We are now preparing the materials and will shortly send them to the Kalmykia Supreme Court ", stated the court representative today.
The court's decision to change the measure of restraint was based on the fact that Burulov violated the undertaking not to leave and to behave in a proper way, imposed on him in April, and tried to hide from the investigation. According to the court representative, Burulov went to Stavropol and then left the clinic to go to Moscow without the court permission. He was detained on the way and brought to the court.
However, according to Anjelika Gurskaya, mayor's adviser, Burulov, prior to leaving for Stavropol, obtained a written permission of the investigating officer in the presence of his lawyer. "In the opinion of the defense, the judge passed an unfair decision and grossly violated the procedural and constitutional rights for defense of the defendant ", runs the cassation appeal cited by RIA "Novosti".
The Elista mayor accused of abusing his power is now held at the pre-trial prison. According to Gurskaya, his state of health deteriorates. Burulov complains of heart ache and needs medical aid. On July 31, the law enforcement agencies of Kalmykia denied Burulov hospital treatment.
Deputies of Elista City Congress previously asked Yuri Chaika, Russian Prosecutor General, to interfere into the relations of Kirsan Ilumzhinov, head of Kalmykia, and Radiy Burulov, mayor of Elista, and preclude the pressure on the latter by the MoI.