Head of Ingush Council of Teips arrested for two months

Malsag Uzhakhov, the chairman of the Ingush Council of Teips (family clans), is arrested. The defence decided to appeal against the decision on his arrest.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 20, Malsag Uzhakhov was taken away from his house by armed men, who, according to his son, refused to introduce themselves or to produce any documents. It was in the evening of the same day, when an advocate learned that Malsag Uzhakhov was suspected of using violence against policemen. The advocate also reported that because of the sudden detention, Malsag Uzhakhov did not take during the whole day the medicine he badly needed.

Ruslan Mutsolgov, the leader of the Ingush branch of the "Yabloko" Party, treats the decision on the Malsag Uzhakhov's arrest as absurd. "I do not understand what the investigating authorities were guided by when they accused the elderly person of attacking law enforcers," Ruslan Mutsolgov said.

He believes that the case is politically motivated. "I believe this is the political persecution of Malsag Uzhakhov, caused by his protest against arbitrariness of the republic's authorities and first of all in the matter of ensuring the territorial integrity of Ingushetia," Ruslan Mutsolgov stated.