08 August 2007, 17:21
"Voice of Beslan" fears that the SC of Kabardino-Balkaria will acquit Ingush militiamen
Today, the Supreme Court (SC) of Kabardino-Balkaria has continued the judicial investigation at the trial of the commanders of the Malgobek District Interior Department (ROVD) of Ingushetia, accused of negligence that entailed the terror act in Beslan.
The "Caucasian Knot" reports that journalists are not admitted to the process.
Ella Kesaeva, head of the "Voice of Beslan" Public Organization, who is representing the victims at the trial, has expressed her opinion to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent: "The trial cannot be fair for the only reason that all the 27 jury members are Ingushes by nationality. Couldn't they find at least one Russian in Ingushetia? The defendants even did not apply for the amnesty. They are confident of an innocent verdict, that they will be acquitted and able to preserve their posts."
We have reported earlier that the injured party had insisted that the militiamen should be trialled in North Ossetia, the place where the terror act was committed; however, their demand was rejected. As a compromise, it was decided to hold the trial in Nalchik.
The case is considered in the premises of the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria, but the process is run by Judge Gazdiev from the Supreme Court of Ingushetia. In the opinion of the injured party, the Judge behaves as an interested person.
Author: Luiza Orazayeva, CK correspondent
