Nationalist fraud trial remains suspended while prosecutors finalise additional evidence submission
The Karasicena High Criminal Court is expected to return to the landmark trial against former Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Party leader Alexei Sukhorukov and his remaining co-defendants “in the next few weeks”. The case has been suspended since early December after prosecutors asked for more time to present what they have called “key new evidence” following the decision by Andrei Kovtun, the party’s former treasurer, to testify against his former colleagues. Kovtun dramatically joined junior staffer Oksana Shulga, who switched to assisting the prosecution in September, in offering new testimony. Chief Prosecutor Irina Volokhova was then granted a four week pause in the trial, allowing her to work with her teams in understanding the new evidence and its impact on the case. A spokesperson said that process was now “almost finished” with the Court expected to reconvene by mid-January after an extension was granted at the end of last year.
Government reportedly asked to consider nominating candidate for World Trade Board Chair
Leaked papers from an upcoming meeting of the World Trade Board’s General Council suggest that the government has been sounded out about putting forward a candidate in the upcoming election for the body’s Chairperson. Incumbent Chair, Aleconia‘s Jorge Téllez, will stand down in July after six years in the role, with the Council now seeking nominations for his replacement. An ‘update for members’ on progress in the search, including nations that had already expressed an interest or could be considered for putting forward a candidate was then accidentally published online. A WTB source told The Union that “it is only natural that the Council is speaking with heads of government about any potential nominations” and that “it is standard practice” for the Board to consider nationstates with “expertise and practical experience” of several aspects of the organisation’s work – as well as seeking to widen its geographic scope. The government is thought to be considering potential candidates – including serving Deputy Prime Minister and finance head Lena Zilberman, as well as former Prime Minister Marina Yanaka.
Families criticise ‘indefensible’ delay to New Year’s Day report publication
Relatives of the 38 victims of the 2020 New Year’s Day attacks have used the 5th anniversary of the tragedy to call for the ‘immediate’ publication of the findings of an inquiry investigating the attacks and government and agency failings in the build up to and aftermath of them. In a joint statement and press conference in Karasicena on Thursday, survivors and family members said that there had still been “no legitimate reason” given by the government for “what is now a four year delay in delivering justice”. The government claims that the Commission continues to want “further evidence” from several suspects, charged in abstentia, but who fled the country in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Family and victim support advocates however say there is “no credible evidence” that such suspects would offer any further clarity or certainty about the motivation of the attackers, and that such a wish should not ‘unnecessarily’ delay the publication of a report, which was written in 2021 – claiming the government is “purposefully” creating a scenario where it can contain the findings, given criticisms of Prime Minister Serbin in a draft which was leaked in 2023.
