18:34, 18 April 2016

North Ossetian SC leaves Alan Bigaev in custody

A criminal case. Photo: Valentina Mischenko / Yugopolis

The Supreme Court (SC) of North Ossetia has refused to change the pre-trial restriction measure for field investigator Alan Bigaev, the fifth defendant in the case of the Vladimir Tskaev's death, who is being kept in custody.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 1, 2015, 39-year-old Vladimir Tskaev died after an interrogation at the Iriston OVD (Interior Division). According to his relatives, Vladimir Tskaev died from torture.

Four policemen were arrested in the case, including Soslan Sitokhov, the chief of the criminal investigation department of the Iriston OVD. On February 29, the Soslan Sitokhov's arrest was extended for two months. On March 28, Alan Bigaev, a 26-year-old Senior Police Lieutenant, the fifth suspect, was arrested until May 2.

Advocates of Alan Bigaev have filed an appeal against the arrest to the Supreme Court of North Ossetia and asked to replace the pre-trial restriction measure in the form of detention in custody to house arrest, reports the press service of the North Ossetian SC.

"However, the SC took into account the possibility that Alan Bigaev can put pressure on witnesses and other persons involved in the proceedings and the likelihood that he may escape from investigators or otherwise obstruct the proceedings. Thus, the SC upheld the decision of the court," reports an official of the North Ossetian SC.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.