21:23, 3 November 2005

Low attendance may speed up trial

Four witnesses were interrogated in North Ossetia's Supreme Court in the trial of Nurpashi Kulayev earlier today, according to the court's press secretary Angela Suanov.

"Witnesses and victims will be inquired simultaneously, which is because of victims' low attendance at the court," Ms Suanov said.

There are about 30 Beslan residents keeping track of the process in the courthouse, according to ITAR-TASS.

On 1 November, Caucasian Knot's correspondent reported that victims did not come to the trial of Kulayev in North Ossetia. The hearing began with a nearly one-hour delay. Only two victims were present. Therefore, the prosecutors at once began to read out the evidence of those victims who have agreed to their pre-trial evidence being used, declining to give it personally in the courthouse.

Taimuraz Chejemov, representative of the Beslan Mothers Committee, linked the low attendance with interest in the process lost: "People no longer trust anyone or anything, so they do not expect anything from the process. This process has shown that no one wants to establish those really guilty."

Trial continues in empty courthouse