Today the Dzerzhinsk City Court (Nizhny Novgorod region) presided by judge Polidorsky held a hearing in the framework of the criminal case concerning the ill-treatment of a locally famous artist Vladimir Polyashov by policemen. As you may know experts of the Committee Against Torture are currently taking part in the proceedings as representatives of the victim. The Committee had earlier carried out a public investigation into the incident of cruel treatment and established the fact of a violation by policemen of Article 3 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the use of torture and cruel treatment”). Today defendant Trofimov paid out 200,000 roubles to Vladimir Polyashov in compensation for non-pecuniary damage right in the court house. Besides, both the defendants pleaded partially guilty, saying that they had not beaten Mr. Polyasov with the rifle that had been on them and officially begged him pardon for what they had done. You may remember that the other defendant, Mr. Tufanin, had already paid out 100,000 roubles to Vladimir Polyashov in compensation for non-pecuniary damage. In the course of the today’s hearing of arguments the public prosecutor requested the court to sentence defendant Trofimiv to 6 years’ imprisonment on probation and Mr. Tufanin to 5 years 9 months’ imprisonment on probation. It should be mentioned that victim Polyashov had earlier asked the court to impose such a sentence on the policemen which will not be connected with the deprivation of liberty. The hearing of arguments will resume on 20 September at 2 p.m.