16:03, 22 January 2019

Court considering Oyub Titiev's case ignores chemists' findings

Oyub Titiev with his advocate Marina Dubrovina. Photo by Patimat Makhmudova for the "Caucasian Knot"

The court has refused to add the conclusions about the incorrect investigation of the cannabis, for the keeping of which Oyub Titiev, a rights defender and the head of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", is accused, to the case files. The court has explained this decision by violation of the rules for holding examinations.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 21, the defence stated that the examination of the cannabis, allegedly found on Titiev, was carried out by using an unreliable method.

Oyub Titiev insists that the drugs were planted on him. On October 16, he told about the disappearance of his personal belongings after detention, including his traumatic pistol.

The defence wants to find out why the video surveillance cameras installed on shops and pharmacies were inoperative on the day of Titiev's detention, under what circumstances people had testified, and whether pressure was exerted on them, the HRC "Memorial" wrote in its Telegram channel.

According to the investigators, the video cameras set up in the police station, where Oyub Titiev was taken, also did not work. Therefore, the defence has pointed out that Titiev's case had lost the most important evidence of falsification thereof.

The next court session is scheduled for January 28.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 22, 2019 at 11:45 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Patimat Makhmudova

Source: CK correspondent