24 January 2012, 18:00
Cherkesov considered the verdict on the case of Sviridov's murder unjustified
During consideration of his appeal in the Supreme Court of Russia Aslan Cherkesov earlier acknowledged guilty of murder of football fan Yegor Sviridov asked the court to avoid the sentence and refer the case to a new consideration. The Supreme Court reduced his custody term from 20 to 19 years and 8 months. The verdict of guilty was confirmed, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
"I consider the verdict unfairly strict. I have a feeling that they sentenced me to 10 years for what I had not done and 10 more years just for my ethnic nationality", Cherkesov's words sounded from the screen set in the courtroom of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.
Attorney Panov supported his client emphasizing that Cherkesov had not received the court record up to the moment.
The rest of the defendants also asked the court to mitigate their punishment replacing by another one, not connected with imprisonment.
Public prosecutor and the attorney of the aggrieved party considered the verdict lawful and appealed to the court to bring a standing judgment and dismiss the defendants' appeal.
On coming back to the courtroom the judges announced the verdict according to which custody term for native of Nalchik Aslan Cherkesov acknowledged guilty of the murder of football fan Yegor Sviridov was reduced from 20 to 19 years and 8 months. Custody term for the rest figurants was reduced from 5 to 4 years and 8 months. The verdict of guilty was confirmed.
Cherkesov's sister and the defendants' relatives as well as Sviridov's widow and football fans were present in the courtroom.
Author: Julia Buslavskaya Source: CK correspondent
