Ingush activists claim at trial absence of proofs of their guilt

While passing harsh sentences, the first-instance court failed to provide any proof of the defendants' involvement in an extremist community, Ismail Nalgiev has stated. In her turn, Zarifa Sautieva has stressed that she never spoke publicly; therefore, her charges of calling for something are unjustified. She has added that the protest action in Magas was peaceful until the "Rosgvardiya" (Russian National Guard) fighters intervened therein.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since January 13, 2023, an appeal process is underway in the Stavropol Territory on the case of seven Ingush protest leaders. Bagaudin Khautiev has stated that the prosecution failed to provide a single proof of the activists' organizing an extremist community and their participation in protests in Magas.

At today's session, Bagaudin Khautiev, Ismail Nalgiev and Zarifa Sautieva presented their appeal complaints.

Ismail Nalgiev has stated that his verdict refers to his participation in illegal rallies. He has noted that he took part in ensuring security at the duly sanctioned rally. He has added that he had stayed at the rally after it ended and had already paid a fine imposed by the court for this. He had not put any physical or psychological violence on anybody, the ZPCh Telegram channel has reported.

Zarifa Sautieva asked to know when, where and under what circumstances she had joined the extremist community. "Citizens have the right to express their opinion peacefully. This action was peaceful until the "Rosgvardiya" fighter intervened," she has stated.

Bashir Tochiev, an Akhmed Barakhoev's advocate, has stressed that the conclusions of psychological and linguistic examinations indicate that there are no signs of a threat of illegal actions in the words of Barakhoev and other defendants. There are also no attributes of any targeted psychological negative impact, the "Memorial" Centre for Defence of Human Rights has reported in its website.