22:53, 14 June 2018

European Parliament demands to free Oyub Titiev

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution demanding to lift charges from Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". 36 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have condemned, in connection with Titiev's case, the decision of the FIFA to accommodate the Egyptian national team in the training camp in Grozny.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since January 11, Titiev is under arrest on charges of possessing marijuana. On June 13, the HRC "Memorial" voiced out its concern over the possible protraction of Titiev's trial.

"During the last 10 years, under the leadership of Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya has become a place where people are persecuted for the slightest hint of dissent, where human rights are violated systematically, and where even human rights defenders and journalists are harassed, threatened and killed," says the MEPs' letter posted on the website of the HRC "Memorial".

The MEPs recall that the FIFA has committed to support persecuted rights defenders, and call on the FIFA to press Vladimir Putin with the aim to release Titiev.

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