HRC "Memorial": Sirazhudin Datsiev beaten because of his human rights activities

Sirazhudin Datsiev, the head of the Dagestani office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", got average injuries after being attacked, there is no threat to his life, his relatives have been informed today by doctors.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today, Sirazhudin Datsiev has been beaten near his house and taken to a hospital.

An investigation in the fact of the attack on Sirazhudin Datsiev has been launched, and the question of initiating a criminal case is under consideration, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by an officer from the press service for the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) for Dagestan.

In connection with the attack on Sirazhudin Datsiev, the HRC "Memorial" has sent an appeal to the Dagestani Prosecutor's Office, the MIA, and the Dagestani Departments of the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) and the FSB. "The HRC 'Memorial' requests to investigate the attack, earlier threats and arson of a car of the HRC, bring the guilty persons to justice, and take measures of state protection against staff members of the HRC 'Memorial' in Dagestan," states the Human Rights Centre in its press release received by the "Caucasian Knot".

According to the rights defenders, those crimes could be committed by "the same persons persecuting the rights defenders." "We request to combine the criminal cases and materials on all complaints of the crimes committed against staff members of the HRC 'Memorial' office in Makhachkala," the press service for the HRC "Memorial" reported.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.