16 January 2020, 21:27
Rezvan Ozdoev pleads not guilty to assaulting law enforcer
At a court hearing in Zheleznovodsk, Ingush activist Rezvan Ozdoev pleaded not guilty to assaulting a fighter of the National Guard of Russia during a rally in March 2019. The defence demanded to question a victim whose name was not disclosed.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 13, 2019, Rezvan Ozdoev, who earlier had been fined 10,000 roubles in an administrative case on participating in the rally on March 27, 2019, was detained in a criminal case on the use of violence against a law enforcer.
On March 26, 2019, residents of Ingushetia extended their rally held in a Magas square, which led to clashes with policemen. In April, mass arrests of oppositionists began in the republic. According to calculations of the "Caucasian Knot", at least 96 activists were persecuted. Criminal cases were opened against at least 29 of them.
At the today's court hearing in the Rezvan Ozdoev's case, a public prosecutor read out a bill of indictment. According to the investigators' conclusions, in the morning on March 27, Rezvan Ozdoev took part in an unsanctioned rally in Magas and "had a criminal intent" against the victim, the fighter of the National Guard of Russia, whose name was not disclosed. The investigators suggest that Rezvan Ozdoev tried to "obstruct the official activities" of the law enforcer and threw a chair at him.
After that, the judge asked Rezvan Ozdoev whether the charge was clear to him and whether he agreed with the investigators' version. "The charge is clear. I plead not guilty," Rezvan Ozdoev answered briefly.
The defence completely disagrees with the public prosecutors, advocate Kyazim Atabiev told the court. "I request the court to invite witnesses and the victim to the trial. And why is the victim's name not disclosed?" noted the advocate. He has emphasized that his client will give testimony after the witnesses are questioned.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 16, 2019 at 01:41 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Vyacheslav Yaschenko Source: CK correspondent
