Judge Syrova denies recusal in Pussy Riot case again
MOSCOW. July 31 (Interfax) - Marina Syrova, a judge in the Pussy Riot case, has refused to be removed from the case, as was requested by the defense attorneys.
The court thus rejected the request filed by the band members' lawyers, an Interfax correspondent said.
Earlier on Tuesday the defense lawyers for the Pussy Riot members filed another request for Khamovnichesky Court Judge Syrova to be removed from the case.
The defense argued that the proceedings were held in breach of the adversarial principle and that the court ignored the defense requests while upholding similar ones from prosecutors. "The judge is indirectly interested in a guilty verdict outcome of the case," said Violetta Volkova, one of the defense lawyers.
Also, my clients "are being tortured and not allowed to eat, drink and sleep," she said.
The defense team for Pussy Riot already requested the judge's removal a day earlier, having deemed her to be biased. They claim she makes baseless decisions and remarks and "deprives the accused of their right to defense." Judge Syrova denied the recusal.