At trial on Nalchik attack, issue was discussed of extending defendants' custody

Today, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria, at the session on the criminal case on the events on October 13, 2005, held under chair of Galina Gorislavskaya, discussed the issue of another three-month extension of defendants' custody term, which expires on June 27.

Olga Chibinyova, head of the group of state accusers, has emphasized that the freedom restriction measure in the form of arrest should be extended for all the defendants, as they are accused of grave and especially grave crimes and "are of special danger to the Russian Federation."

Then, the chair asked the opinion of each of the defendants. 

Defendant Arthur Kuchmenov passed over his written application to the court, which was announced by the chair. It ran that after arrest he was exposed to torture. In particular, he stated that electric current was connected to his ears - the consequences are his permanent headaches.

"I feel hard to talk. The medical unit of the SIZO (pre-trial prison) gives no reaction to my complaints. Once I was taken to the hospital of the UFSIN (Federal Corrective Service), where I was never examined by a doctor," says the defendant's statement.

Kuchmenov asked to replace his custody for recognizance not to leave or home arrest, to be able to receive due highly-qualified medical aid.

Anzor Mashukov has stated that "he personally feels calmer at SIZO." He petitioned for replacement of custody for recognizance not to leave for defendant Sergey Kaziev, who is sick with hepatitis C and leg thrombophlebitis.

Murat Midov asked to change detention regime for Kazbek Budtuev, who, as he said, is imprisoned "for nothing".

Many defendants complained of deterioration of their state of health. 

Advocate Psomiadi has noted that the state of health of the defendants will worsen; and it will hamper the litigation; therefore, it would be better to replace custody of some of them for recognizance not to leave.

See earlier reports: "At Nalchik attack trial, district militiaman speaks positively about defendants," "Trial of attack on Nalchik postponed till June 16," "Advocates in Nalchik attack case challenge the court but fail."