Advocates denied access to case on death of girl from Malgobek

An investigator refused to provide the materials of the case on the death of a four-year-old victim of torture from Malgobek to advocates representing the interests of the victim. A top-ranking official in Ingushetia said forensic experts found no signs of sexual abuse on the child’s body.

Advocate Magomed Bekov reported that the investigator refused to provide the defenders with the materials of the case on the death of the child, the “Kavkaz.Realii”* reports.

Residents of Ingushetia express their fears that the authorities of the republic are trying to slow down the case on the cruel torture of the four-year-old girl.

According to neighbours, people drinking alcohol regularly gathered in the apartment of Tamila Mutsolgova, and her children looked unkempt, were constantly hungry and cried.

Activist Anzhela Matieva believes that all officials responsible for working with dysfunctional families should leave their posts after the tragedy in Malgobek. The activist also noted the indifferent attitude of the society towards the problems of children in dysfunctional families.

Cases of sexualized child abuse are often not reported, and if they become publicly known, the police are reluctant to investigate them, notes Emma R., an employee of an international human rights organization.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.