5 Chechens Appeal against Illegal Imprisonment

5 Chechens Appeal against Illegal Imprisonment

Scheduled to be continued on November 11, the so-called “Chechens’ process” in the Supreme Court has been delayed until November 18 because of the absence of the prosecutor. The organization “Article 42 of the constitution” appeals against a sentence of Tbilisi regional court, according to which 5 Chechens (Khanchukaev, Magamedov, Isaev, Kushtanashvili and Aliev) have been sentenced to 4 year imprisonment for resisting the prison administration and hindering the activity of the penitentiary institution.

Archil Chopikashvili and Tea Gadrani, advocates of “Article 42 of the constitution” deny the existence of possible, legal evidence as foreseen by the law code, which would prove the accused guilty. Besides, it is a proven fact, that all five persons had been ilegally detained on October 4, 2002, when the crime was committed.

Presumably, the four year sentence represents nothing but an extension of the prior illegal imprisonment. Based upon the above-mentioned circumstances, “Article 42 of the Constitution” requests the Supreme Court to annul the sentence passed by the regional court and to release the five prisoners.