The appellate body reviewing the Dok-1 Max case was forced to announce an unexpected recess until May 20, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. The interruption was necessitated by the absence of Davron Akhmadov, the lawyer representing the Indian defendant, S.R.P.
Muzaffar Akhmedov, the chairman of the jury stated that, Akhmadov failed to attend the court session despite being duly notified of the time and place. Efforts to reach him via phone calls were unsuccessful, leading the jury to reluctantly adjourn the session. Akhmedov expressed his frustration, emphasizing that the delay was not the court's preference but was unavoidable under the circumstances.
The legal representatives and lawyers of the victims vehemently objected to the adjournment. They requested that their petitions be considered by the court despite the absence of the defense attorney. However, Judge Akhmedov maintained that proceeding in such a manner would violate legal protocols and potentially provoke objections from Akhmadov.
Feruz Nuritdinov, representing one of the victims, voiced his discontent with the delay. Nuritdinov, who had been fulfilling his duty of guarding the state border, underscored the personal and urgent nature of the case, noting that his child was critically ill. He criticized the absenteeism of the defense lawyer, stressing the importance of timely proceedings for all involved parties.
"I am in favor of continuing the court session and reaching a single conclusion on the case as soon as possible, and I demand that," Nuritdinov asserted.
Lawyers representing other defendants indicated that Akhmadov’s absence was due to illness. They mentioned that Akhmadov had communicated his condition in a Telegram group for his colleagues. Despite this, Judge Akhmedov insisted on the necessity of legal representation for the Indian defendant. He suggested that if Akhmadov remained unavailable, an alternative lawyer should be appointed for S.R.P.
The Indian defendant stated that he needed to consult with Akhmadov before deciding on appointing another lawyer.
In light of these discussions, Judge Akhmedov declared an enforced adjournment until May 20.
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