SC of KChR cancels verdict to former Deputy Chief of Police of Cherkessk

The Supreme Court (SC) of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) has overturned the verdict of the Cherkessk City Court that found Ruslan Rakhaev, the ex-Deputy Chief of Police of Cherkessk, guilty of beating to death the administrative detainee Dakhir Djankezov and sent the case to the Prosecutor's Office.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 8, 2013, Rakhaev was sentenced to 13 years in a high security colony. On July 15, the defence appealed against the verdict.

The SC of the KChR has cancelled the decision of the first instance and sent the case to the prosecutor for the latter to remove the obstacles to its consideration, Marat Djanibekov, the press secretary of the SC, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In particular, according to Djanibekov, the Cherkessk City Court, "while exploring and quoting the written testimonies, referred to by the public prosecutor, in the verdict, failed to assess them in terms of reliability and sufficiency for solving the criminal case."

He added that the panel of judges has established, in the course of watching the records of surveillance cameras, that well before the midday of October 7, 2011 (the time, when, according to the case files, the crime was committed, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") Dakhir Djankezov had traces of bodily injuries on his face.

In such circumstances, the panel of judges of the SC has determined to cancel the verdict of the Cherkessk City Court, return the case to the prosecutor and select Rakhaev's freedom restriction in the form of recognizance not to leave and behave appropriately.