Appeal in Case over Aikorkem’s Death Postponed

The defendant Arman Zhuman, a few minutes before the start of the trial, recused his lawyers, who secured his acquittal at the court of first instance. Zhuman’s lawyers told an Orda correspondent that such behavior may be related to a nervous breakdown.

On January 24, the military court of Astana was set to consider an appeal in the case regarding the death of four-year-old Aikorkem Meldehan during the January events. However, the trial was postponed because the defendant, Arman Zhuman, has refused his lawyers’ services, Oksana Musokhranova and Natalia Usova.

Natalia Usova told an Orda correspondent that it was an unpleasant surprise for her and her colleagues:

We do not know the reason for Arman Zhuman's decision. We will find out what was the reason for the recusal. Perhaps this is due to a nervous breakdown because this person has been subjected to a certain persecution for more than a year and received a lot of negativity in his direction. We were shocked.

Usova and Musokhranova have been withdrawn from the trial.

Zhangaza Kunserkin, the lawyer of the affected party, considers the recusal to be a deliberate delay.

This is, of course, his constitutional right. But given the fact that state secrets are involved in the case, the new lawyer must be granted access to them. This is not an easy process. At best, the appeal will now be considered only in two months. This is already a deliberate delaying of the process, says Kunserkin.

RMB: On November 15, the military court of the Almaty garrison acquitted serviceman Arman Zhuman in the case regarding Aikorkem's death. He was accused of abuse of power with the use of weapons entailing grave consequences.

Aikorkem Meldehan died in her father's car on January 7, 2022, after the car came under fire on a square in Almaty. A bullet struck the girl in the head. There were four children of Aidos Meldehan in the car at that moment. They were also injured. Aidos was at home.

Original Author: Silam Aqbota

DISCLAIMER: This is a translated piece. The text has been modified, the content is the same. Please refer to the original article in Russian.