New charges presented to blogger Dudko detained in Moscow

Alaudin Dudko, who is known in the Internet under nickname ingushetiya_ru and who is now kept in the SIZO (pre-trial prison) Butyrka in Moscow on suspicion of drug and explosive storage, was presented new charges - under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Excitation of hatred or enmity and humiliation of one's dignity." Mikhail Kriger and Anna Karetnikova, members of the public observation commission for detention places, who visited Mr Dudko in the SIZO, report about poor blogger's health condition after beating and because of unsatisfactory custody conditions.

A source close to the investigation told, while preferring to remain anonymous, about the details of Dudko's detention. "At detention, he was forced on the ground and handcuffed; they planted something into his pocket, and then founded at the eyes of the witnesses. It was heroin. Dudko did not resist, but he was braided so tightly that his hands swelled up," said the source of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his version, local militia was called later. "Then, when he was already in the UVD (Interior Department), they rushed into his home. They found some trotyl blocks and a timer, which did not belong to him. The search was held without due documenting and without witnesses; thus, they could have found anything, even a whole antiaircraft installation," said the source.

Mr Kriger and Ms Karetnikova who visited, as mentioned above, Alaudin Dudko at the SIZO, confirmed his poor health state after beating and unsatisfactory custody conditions in his cell. However, as they added, it became known that for two day after their visit meals were normal and then worsened again.

According to the above source, at the trial Dudko was not even asked about the source of his drugs and trotyl blocks; however, under three articles he is under threat of up to 15 years in prison. The blogger himself writes in all interrogation protocols that he was not guilty.

The source said that some extremist brochures had been found in Dudko's car, which, according to his version, were surely planted there. "In one of the brochures the telephone number of certain Mussa Malsagov was found. Probably, they will try to link him with the blogger," said the source.

The blogger refuses to plead guilty, asserts that the weapons and drugs had been planted to him and believes that the real reason of prosecutions was in his public and information work.

The case of Dudko is run by E. Pakhomova, a senior inspector of the Investigatory Department under the OVD (Interior Division) Taganskoe, who was inaccessible for comments.

A close friend of Dudko's family said that before his arrest the blogger had been shadowed for three weeks. Four cars were alternately on duty at his house; their number plates are written down. "But Alaudin was calm: he committed nothing bad, and he received no threats," said the source.

Dudko's relatives believe that one more fact could affect his arrest: "Possibly, denunciations of some of our relatives who challenge the right on the apartment could influence. They filed three statements to the prosecutor's office. Probably, they just want to take away his flat and drive his children and wife away. He's not a wealthy person; he has no money even to hire an advocate. Probably, Lev Ponomaryov, head of the movement 'For Human Rights' will act as his defender."

In the meantime, the editorial collective of the blog ingushetiya_ru in the LiveJournal continues supporting their colleagues. Records appear there informing about the situation around his arrest.

Kaloy Akhilgov, press secretary of the President of Ingushetia, was the first person to report Mr Dudko's arrest in his on-line diary. The website "Ingushetia.org" reminds in its turn that before the murder of the Ingush oppositionist Magomed Evloev Dudko had cooperated with his portal, by rendering information and technical support. However, after Evloev's death Dudko lost his contacts with the edition. Authors of diaries in the LiveJournal are seriously concerned of Dudko's fate. Many of them express fears that he can be accused of taking part in Moscow metro explosions.