'Another individual said during the trial that a state government agency, the Anti-Extremist Center, had pressured him “to make a false statement against Gaskarov.” In secret testimony, police officers said “they had video evidence that Gaskarov had led attacks on police, though the footage was never shown.”

As the trial proceeded, on source stated “Gaskarov was repeatedly denied bail, and evidence that might have helped clear him was rejected or ignored.” Another report stated that Gaskarov and his lawyers were “convinced” that authorities wanted to imprison him “by any means” because of his political activity.