17:40, 23 November 2018

Oyub Titiev awarded Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law

Oyub Titiev talks with his advocate. Photo: courtesy of HRC 'Memorial'

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs for France and Germany included Oyub Titiev in the list of laureates of the Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law for 2018, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" reports today.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Oyub Titiev, the head of the HRC "Memorial" office in Grozny, accused of marijuana possession, has been in custody since January 11. He pleads not guilty and claims that the drugs were planted on him.

On October 8, Oyub Titiev was awarded the Václav Havel Prize. At the award ceremony, a letter from Oyub Titiev was read out, in which he called the charges against him false and described the atmosphere of fear in Chechnya.

Oyub Titiev became one of 15 laureates of the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law for 2018, the list of which was announced by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs for France and Germany on November 21, the press service of the HRC "Memorial" reports today.

"France and Germany pay tribute to 15 figures who courageously defend human rights all over the world. Through them, our two countries honour all human rights advocates whose work is all too often ignored or obstructed," the HRC "Memorial" quotes on its website the Ministries as announcing.

Since 2016, the prize established by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs for France and Germany has been awarded every year to figures who have made "an exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights and the rule of law" in their country and at the international level, the HRC "Memorial" reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 23, 2018 at 11:24 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.