Oyub Titiev's defence refutes main prosecution's proofs

The examination of the cannabis, the keeping of which is imputed to Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", failed to prove its narcotic properties; and the examination results of the wash-offs from Titiev's hands contradict each other. This was stated by experts at the trial. The main proofs in the case are unreliable, said Ilya Novikov, a Titiev's advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Titiev's case has been heard at the Shali Court since July 19, 2018. On January 15, 2019, the court refused to add the materials, which refute witnesses' testimonies, to the case files. The defence has stated that the court failed to understand the importance thereof. At the session on January 21, the defence convinced the court to question the fingerprint expert.

At the January 21 session, two chemists and one expert in criminology and fingerprinting were questioned.

The methodology of all chemical examinations that were carried out in Titiev's case, namely, of the substance from the package, scattered, according to law enforcers, in Titiev's car, and wash-offs from his hands, was not correct, said the experts.

The examinations were carried out by the method of express diagnostics; and this technique is extremely unreliable, said the advocate Ilya Novikov.

All the questioned experts confirmed that the main proofs in the case fail to meet the standards of the Russian judicial procedure, "are unreliable and cannot form the basis of an indictment," the advocate has added.