15:44, 7 April 2023

Advocate treats harsh sentence to natives of Dagestan for brawl in metro as predefined

Gasan Zalibekov, Ibragim Musalaev and Magamaali Khanmagomedov (from left to right). Photo: https://twitter.com/ntvru/status/1446160887556018178

The verdict in the case of three natives of Dagestan for beating a passenger in the Moscow metro was predetermined due to a media campaign against the defendants, their defence believes. Publications in the press led to the reclassification of the case to a more serious article and a tough sentence, one of the advocates has stated.

On March 14, 2023, the court sentenced Magamaali Khanmagomedov, Ibragim Musalaev and Gasan Zalibekov to prison terms from 8 to 12 years, finding them guilty of beating a metro passenger and using violence against power officials. Natives of Dagestan have challenged the judgement.

Initially, the case was opened under the article on hooliganism, but on October 7, 2021, it was reclassified into an attempted murder.

Alexander Lopin, an advocate, believes that case was reclassified due to numerous publications in the media. He has also pointed out that in some publications the emphasis was placed in such a way that the visitors attacked the Muscovite.

Mr Lopin has also noted that at least Khanmagomedov was indirectly exposed to pressure.

According to investigators' official version, three natives of Dagestan intended to kill the 25-year-old passenger who stood up for the girl.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 6, 2023 at 08:15 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Alexander Stepanov

Source: СK correspondent