Nur-Pashi Kulayev’s lawyer

I can’t find the words to describe how frustrated I am to discover that Nur-Pashi Kulayev, the man accused of being involved in the murder of several hundred schoolchildren at Beslan, is being given such inadequate representation:

Kulayev’s lawyer, Albert Pliyev, who has been licensed to practice law for only two weeks, appeared anxious.

With the possible exception of the Khodorkovsky trial, this has to be the most important and challenging trial in Russia today, and the Russian government has allowed someone as green behind the ears is Pliyev to represent Kulayev.  It is conceivabe, I suppose, that Kulayev insisted on Pliyev as his lawyer, but I very much doubt that this was the case.  I simply cannot imagine that Kulayev can receive a fair hearing under these circumstances.

Update: I see from this AP report that Pliyev was appointed to represent Kulayev.

Before the trial began, Kulayev’s appointed lawyer Albert Pliyev said he thought his client would get a fair trial. Asked if he feared being attacked by angry relatives for defending Kulayev, Pliyev replied: "Of course, there’s fear."

Tagged as: Chechnya