Rights defenders recognize Cheldiev, Besolov and Chirkinov as political prisoners

The criminal case against Vadim Cheldiev, Arsen Besolov and Ramis Chirkinov, participants in the rally in Vladikavkaz against anti-covid restrictions, was fabricated in order to suppress attempts to create public associations and criticize authorities. This was stated by the human rights project "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 19, 2022, the Rostov Regional Court sentenced Vadim Cheldiev, an opera singer from North Ossetia, to 10 years in prison, finding him guilty of inciting extremism.

"We believe that the criminal case under the article on organizing mass riots against activists was fabricated in order to undermine any attempts to create independent public associations; while the charges against Cheldiev under articles on disseminating knowingly false information and inciting extremist activities are aimed at suppressing the most prominent critics of the Russian government," the "Memorial" Centre for the Protection of Human Rights has stated in its website.

Let us remind you that on April 20, 2020, in Vladikavkaz, law enforcers dispersed the rally of opponents of the self-isolation regime in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. The protesters demanded resignation of the government, parliament and head of North Ossetia. According to investigators, 13 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and "Rosgvardiya" (Russian National Guard) received traumas at the spontaneous rally.