Rights defender Nagavkin claims contradictions in testimonies of prosecution witnesses

Igor Nagavkin, a Volgograd human rights defender, has asked the court to pay attention to contradictions in witnesses' testimonies about the time of the incident in the cell. The judge refused to add his motion to the case files. Nagavkin also asked the judge to speed up the trial, saying that he was tired of the court hearings.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 21, complaints from Nagavkin, who has been on a hunger strike at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) since March 7, were received by the Prosecutor's Office; this was reported by Igor's sister. On March 24, a SIZO official stated that Igor had stopped his hunger strike.

"Igor said in court that he stopped his hunger strike on March 22, after he received my letter that an official of the regional PO would come to see him. Apparently, there was no sense in continuing the hunger strike. And he had problems with blood pressure before that. He looks better now," Natalia Shishlina, Igor's sister, has explained.

She has complained that "the aim of the trial was lost." "He (Igor) is tired of hearings. He wants to be convicted at the upcoming one. But the judge has refused; she said that she would do everything within the law, and that there should still be the parties' debates. His (Igor's) nerves can't stand it. He is still kept in a solitary cell and sees that the verdict will not be in his favour," Natalya Shishlina has concluded.