The lawyers of Major-General Viktor Nazarov have filed an acquittal motion a high-ranking official ”due to the absence of a criminal offense in his actions,” Radio Liberty reports, referring to the statement by Nazarov`s lawyer Mikhail Turik in the Pavlohrad district court (Dnipropetrovsk region), where the case is heard into the shooting down of an Il-76 transport plane, shot down by armed separatists on approach to Luhansk airfield, with 49 Ukrainian soldiers on board.
In addition, Nazarov`s lawyers also ask the court to lift a UAH 97,400 bail and close criminal proceedings.
According to Turik, it is inappropriate to talk about ”combat situation” regarding Viktor Nazarov`s actions. After the lawyer`s address, the court announced the completion of the debate.
At the same time, Nazarov reiterated that he pleaded not guilty. In particular, he noted that ”manipulation of information” had taken place during pre-trial investigation, and the testimony of witnesses in the court included ”assumptions” and ”data interpreted at their own discretion.”
The court must render the final decision at its next meeting.
Earlier, the plane was downed in June 2014 on the approach to Luhansk airfield. Nine crew members and 40 Ukrainian soldiers aboard were killed in the incident, deemed by Ukrainian law enforcers as a terrorist act.
