21:45, 13 May 2023

Lawyers point to falsification of charges against Ingush activists

Ingush activists. Photo: http://zapravakbr.com

The accusation of creating an extremist community is based on the assumption that the defendants had communicated with each other before the rally in Magas; but some did not even know each other, Bashir Tochiev, Akhmed Barakhoev's advocate, has stated. The accusation of organizing violence against law enforcers is absurd, the violence was provoked by the authorities who tried to disperse the peaceful rally, Sergey Davidis, a lawyer and a board member of the "Memorial" Centre for the Protection of Human Rights, has stressed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since January 13, 2023, a trial is underway in the Stavropol Territory on the complaints against the verdicts lodged by seven protest leaders in Magas. On May 11, Bagaudin Khautiev, Ismail Nalgiev and Zarifa Sautiyeva stated that there were no proofs of their guilt. The advocate for Musa Malsagov asked to attach materials about the disease of the defendant's child to the case files.

The prosecution failed to provide a single proof of Barakhoev's guilt; and the verdict is based on mere allegations, Bashir Tochiev, an advocate, has stated.

Mr Davidis stated that the charges put forward against Ingush activists were politically motivated.

"In itself, the accusation of organizing violence against law enforcers is absurd. The violence was not organized and ... was provoked by authorities' actions, which launched a violent dispersal of the peaceful rally," he has explained.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 12, 2023 at 08:28 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: СK correspondent