Normal021falsefalsefalseTRX-NONEX-NONEMicrosoftInternetExplorer4st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:”Normal Tablo”;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:””;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Nalchik/Agency Caucasus – During a protest organized on October 22 in Nalchik, the verdict against Aslan Cherkasov, who is charged with murdering Yegor Svidirov, was protested. The protest named “Justice for Aslan Cherkasov” ended with intervention of the police.
About 150 people participated in the protest which took place on Maria Square. On October 21 Cherkesov’s relatives organized two protests and demanded justice for Cherkasov.
“I went out to ramble with my friend but we saw Cherkasov’s mother on the square and we could not ignore the protest. We want to support her, because they unjustly convict Cherkasov” said Elena, one of the participants in the protest. She stated that supporting Cherkasov’s mother is not the only reason for participating in the protest: “Everybody knows that Russians are prejudiced against Caucasians and we are anxious because of that. We are anxious about not only Cherkasov’s future, but also our children’s future, who will be studying at universities out of Kabardino-Balkaria.”
Another participant Irina Samoilova is angry because of the repression against Cherkasov: “It’s always being stated on the media that Caucasians are misbehaving in Moscow and Russians are oppressed in Caucasia. Doing this they are boosting Russian’s hatred against Caucasians. But the reality is completely different.” Samoilova, whose father is Russian and mother is Balkarian, stated that neither she nor any relatives of her are oppressed in any way: “They treat us like their relatives. But in Russia’s central regions people do not treat Caucasians in the same way. They hate us. We are worried about our children’s future.”
Arsen, a citizen who described the verdict against Cherkasov as ‘far from justice’ said: “20 people attacked on 6 people. Cherkasov never wanted to kill. And his gun was non-lethal, only shooting plastic bullets. Aslan used the gun to survive in an unfair fight. This verdict is an injustice to Aslan and his mother.”
Marianka, a university student, who joined the protest after seeing banner “Freedom for Aslan Cherkasov” said: “I could not pass with out joining the protest, because Aslan is not guilty. A person, who defended his own life, should not be punished like that.”
On October 20 Moscow City Court jury unanimously decided that Cherkasov is guilty. According to the jury’s view ‘Cherkassov does not deserve clemency’.
After the verdict Cherkasov’s mother Sonia Cherkasova expressed that she will go on a hunger strike on October 23 to make the federal administration hear her demand for fair verdict.
“Aslan was tried because he did not let himself and his friends to be killed. I am not going to stop until administration hears me. I am going to fight to the end. I am going to appeal to the ECHR.” said Cherkasova.
Yegor Sviridov was killed in the night of October 5. Defendants are Aslan Cherkasov from Nalchik, Akai Akaev, Artur Arsibiev, Hasan Ibragimov, Nariman Ismailov and Ramzan Utarbiev from Chechnya and Dagestan.
In the night of October 5 Cherkasov and his friends were attacked by a crowded group of drunken hooligans and during the fight a bullet from Cherkasov’s gun killed hooligan named Yegor Sviridov. After the incident in all of Russia’s big cities racist attacks were launched against Caucasians. KU/OZ/CY
