Khashagulgov faces charges: no Vladikavkaz terror act included

Issa Khashagulgov, who was detained in Ingushetia on suspicion of organizing the terror act in the central marketplace in Vladikavkaz, is charged under two Articles of the Russian Criminal Code - Article 208 (organization of an illegal armed formation) and Article 222 (firearm storage). No charges of organizing the terror act were presented, said Musa Pliev, Mr Khashagulgov's advocate.

"There are no proofs of his guilt on any of the charges. It should be noted that Khashagulgov was actually detained in Karabulak, near his home, when he went out to the pharmacy, and delivered secretly to Vladikavkaz, where the court ruled to put him in custody," Musa Pliev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The advocate says that his client was tortured. "There were signs of torture on Issa's body. They demanded that he confessed of the crimes he never committed, but he refused to do it. He was taken to Vladikavkaz in order to exclude participation of Ingush judges in this case. During his arrest a Makarov pistol and a grenade were planted on my client. This was done to falsify the reasons for his detention," said Pliev.

He believes that his client is innocent and should be released.

The advocate also noted that he could not yet reveal all the details of the inquiry, since he had subscribed not to disclose information of the preliminary investigation. "By the way, this measure was applied illegally in terms of constitutional guarantees of my client's rights. It somewhat limits the opportunities of the defence," said Pliev.

He says that now Khashagulgov is in Moscow, in Lefortovo isolation facility. "Here the situation is different from Vladikavkaz: no physical pressure and no torture," said the lawyer.

Mr Pliev emphasizes that his client has rejected his guilt on all the points; he believes that Khashagulgov's prosecution is politically motivated, because he and his elder brother are civil activists. They are members of a human rights organization; they have always stuck to their own position.

The Khashagulgov's case is run by the Investigatory Department of the FSB of Russia. Written requests of the "Caucasian Knot" to the FSB's centre of public relations remain unanswered, while telephone calls are replied: "Wait."