Media: Circassian activist Kochesoko claims contradictions in indictment

According to Martin Kochesoko, law enforcers gave contradicting testimonies in a drug case against him, while during a search, attesting witnesses were false. The Circassian activist also spoke about the threats he got when law enforcers tried to force him to take the blame.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Martin Kochesoko was detained in Nalchik in June 2019. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported that the man pleaded guilty to the acquisition and storage of drugs on a large scale. However, the activist said that the drugs had been planted to him and that he was prosecuted for his social activities. Martin Kochesoko faces up to ten years of imprisonment.

In his interview to the "Meduza", Martin Kochesoko said that the criminal case against him, brought to court in July, contained "continuous contradictions."

Martin Kochesoko noted that two months before his detention, he got threats from an official.

"On May 16, 2019, we held a roundtable on the issue of federalism in the Russian Federation. Following the roundtable, we declared that local self-administration did not work and that all officials in Kabardino-Balkaria were only appointed from Moscow," the activist said.

According to Martin Kochesoko, his brother saw how law enforcers put a large package to a boot of the activist's car. Martin Kochesoko thought that his life was in danger and decided to take the blame. "In our republic, people often disappear or someone is killed without trial and then declared to be a terrorist ... I decided not to take a risk it and immediately agreed to do what they told me to do," the activist explained.

Martin Kochesoko claimed that the law enforcers made up a story about how he picked marijuana and hid it.

Later, the law enforcers warned the activist that it would make no sense for him to retract his confession.