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Lawyers' appeals to repeat expert examinations on Pussy Riot turned down

The Moscow City Court has refused to question experts and investigators in charge of the Pussy Riot case

MOSCOW, October 10 (Itar-Tass) — The Moscow City Court where hearings into the appeal case for the Pussy Riot punk group are going on, has refused to question experts and investigators in charge of the Pussy Riot case; thus, the court has turned down an appeal filed by Pussy Riot lawyer Nikolai Polozov.

"The Judicial Panel sees no reason to summon the above-mentioned persons to testify in court," the Moscow City Court said in a resolution. In his appeal the lawyer asked to summon to court and question as witnesses the experts, who conducted a psychological- linguistic examination on the case on May 23, and experts and investigators who conducted a preliminary investigation into the case. Besides, Polozov also asked to question people who had watched the incident at Christ the Savior Cathedral.

The Moscow City Court has refused to repeat a psychological-linguistic examination of members of the Pussy Riot punk group who were convicted for an act of terrorism staged at the Christ the avior Cathedral. Thus, the court has turned down a corresponding appeal filed by lawyer Violetta Volkova. "The experts who did that are deeply religious church advocates, consequently, their interests run contrary to the interests of the defendants," Volkova said, adding she believed those experts were not quite professional people.

But, lawyer for the injured party Larisa Pavlova has dismissed Volkova's appeal as "her own PR act similar to the one Volkova had earlier demonstrated at the Khamovnichesky district court."

None of the representatives of the injured party have turned up at the Moscow City Court on Wednesday. Their interests are represented by their lawyers.

Around two dozen opponents of the Pussy Riot punk group gathered near the Moscow City Court on Wednesday. One of them, Ivan Dyachenko -a coordinator of the "Morals" coalition, declared that they «wanted doctors to attend to the members of the Pussy Riot group because normal people cannot commit such immoral acts". Dyachenko reminded of the World Mental Health Day observed on October 10. "This is why the members of the coalition have put white gowns on," Dyachenko explained.

Orthodox activist Dmitry Tsorionov and his supporters have brought icons to the court building which they are holding in their hands. The Orthodox advocates have begun a prayer service near a chapel on the territory of the Moscow City Court.

There are only a few supporters of the Pussy Riot group waiting outside.

The situation near the court building is quiet. No conflicts between supporters and opponents of the Pussy Riot have been reported.

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