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Court cannot interrogate Viktor Baturin as his all lawyers sick

Brother of former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's wife is charged with several counts of grand fraud

MOSCOW, May 13 (Itar-Tass) - Moscow’s Gagarinsky Court on Monday rescheduled for May 17 the interrogation of businessman Viktor Baturin under the case on forgery with INTECO’s promissory notes due to sickness of his all four lawyers.

The court planned for Monday the interrogation of Baturin to be followed by statements from the sides. By 14:00 Moscow time none of the four lawyers showed up, though they had sent telephone with notifications of the sickness.

“I have not seen the lawyers since mid-April,” Baturin said commenting on the situation. “I hope they understand what they are doing.”

The court agreed with the prosecution it was impossible to continue the hearings in the absence of all the lawyers, which could violate Baturin’s right for defence.

Baturin is brother of former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's wife. He was placed under arrest on November 30, 2011. He was charged with several counts of grand fraud, including attempted theft of 10.8 million roubles under fake promissory notes of the INTEKO Company and attempted theft of 5.6 billion roubles.

According to the investigator, on November 28, 2011, he presented a false promissory note of the INTEKO Company at its office at 28, Sadovaya-Spasskaya Street. It was worth 10.8 million roubles, and Baturin demanded immediate payment. INTEKO personnel had misgivings regarding the authenticity of the promissory note. They called police who detained Viktor Baturin.