11:20, 9 June 2019

Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko detained in Nalchik

Martin Kochesoko. Screenshot of Martin Kochesoko's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsh4ROQFRbL/

On June 8, policemen searched the office of the NGO "Khabze" and detained its head Martin Kochesoko and other activists, sources told the "Caucasian Knot".

The policemen came to the "Khabze" office around 11 a.m. and took away computers. According to preliminary data, Martin Kochesoko was sent to the SIZO (pre-trial prison) and was charged with possessing drugs, one of the "Khabze" activists told the "Caucasian Knot".

Other "Khabze" activists detained with Kochesoko were soon released, the portal "Kavkaz.Realii" reports referring to its sources.

In late May, Mr Kochesoko reported that his parents had been visited by a local official, who said that the activist "should slow down his activeness." This happened after Kochesoko held a roundtable in Nalchik on federalism problems.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 8, 2019 at 07:58 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.