Fotov detained in Nalchik complains of torture

Ratmir Fotov held in a pre-trial prison of Nalchik has filed a complaint at the KBR public human rights center, in which he claims that he has been tortured already in the pre-trial facility.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported earlier that Ratmir Fotov, aged 33, was detained on June 14 about 17.30 on Nakhushev Street in Nalchik. The house where he visited his acquaintances was surrounded by special forces. Then Fotov was driven to an unknown destination. No one from the participants of the arrest introduced himself or named the organization that arrested him.

Note that Ratmir Fotov was closely acquainted with the killed Beslan Emkuzhev and Adam Tlisov. He had met them several hours before they were killed. Additionally, Fotov was arrested under the suspicion of an assault related to robbery at the beauty parlor in Baisultanov Street in March this year. This is why Fotov had been kept for two weeks at the pre-trial prison in Nalchik.

In particular, the Fotov's complaint runs that, on June 26, he was informed that he was going to be taken out for conducting investigative actions. "I was met at the pre-trial prison meeting room by law enforcement officers wearing masks and uniforms. Without any explanation, they put a black bag over my head, handcuffed my hands, twisted them and lead me to some place", relays Fotov. According to him, he was taken to an unidentified place and then, "the bag still over my head, they started beating me, forcing me to confess and insulting me by derogatory expressions", following which "they started beating me on my back and head with something heavy".

The complaint further mentions the use of an electric shocker on the detainee: "They connected electric wires to my neck and ears and switched on electricity. They have been torturing me for many hours. They wanted me to confess to many crimes, including the murder of Bogatyrev, deputy chief  of the pre-trial prison, colonel Shukaev, explosion of the militia UAZ, they were asking me about hiding places, safe houses, and named different names", claims Fotov.

"They took me out of the pre-trial prison during the morning walk and brought me back in the evening. According to the pre-trial prison staff and judging from the documents, I was taken away by the officers of the "E" center. When I was brought back to the pre-trial prison, those who returned me to the pre-trial prison simply threw me into the meeting room and left. The pre-trial prison staff were frightened and, at the beginning, they refused to register the traces of beating on me. But when the other inmates became indignant and started knocking at the doors, the pre-trial prison staff were forced to compile an official report on my state of health", runs the complaint.

Fotov asks to be protected from "further derision and to hold responsible those who tortured me".

No response from the pre-trial prison management has been given so far.

Note that the complaint has also been sent to the KBR Public Chamber, the KBR ombudsman and the Prosecutor's office, the human rights center "Memorial", "Amnesty International" and the Council of Europe Committee on the Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.