Resident of Kabardino-Balkaria asserts that militiamen tortured him to knock out confessions

Azamat M. Abazov, a resident of Kabardino-Balkaria, claims that a criminal case was fabricated against him; and after his detention on November 24 militiamen beat him and tortured with electric current demanding confession evidences.

On November 24, at about 6 p.m., Azamat Abazov, as he writes in his application submitted to human rights defenders and law enforcement bodies, was driving his car VAZ-2107. At the intersection of Malbakhova and Kirova Streets in the city of Baksan he was blocked by three militia cars with tinted windows. All the agents were dressed in camouflage and armed; two of them were in masks.

One of the militiamen put a pistol to Abazov's head, grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and knocked onto the ground. Abazov was asked about some pistol, which was allegedly with him. Under a threat of physical violence they forced Abazov into a militia car and took away into some unknown place; on the way they put a black bag over his head.

"As soon as I was brought into some room, they immediately taped my eyes on top of the bag, put face down onto the floor, fixed my hands behind my back with the tape and started asking questions on the same subject: where my gun was, and where the guy Timur by name could be. They called out the surnames unknown to me and demanded to name location of some hideouts and so forth," said Abazov.

According to his story, his negative answers did not suit the militiamen; and they continued questioning him under torture. Abazov claims that he was beaten and kicked; they lifted him to the level of human height and threw down onto the floor, with electric wires connected to his fingers; they passed electric current through his body, and periodically poured water on him.

One of the militiamen, said Abazov, threatened him with rape; he took off Abazov's trousers and underwear down to his knees and strangled him with a plastic bag, while threatening all the time. "I can't give details, as it humiliates my dignity. Several times I lost consciousness, and came back to my senses from pain," he said.

According to his story, his statement is confirmed by the medical examination made upon his arrival to the temporary detention facility (known as "IVS") of Baksan, and by the photographs that his advocate manage to take; on petition of the latter, Abazov was exposed to forensic examination.

Currently, as Abazov asserts, his body has numerous injuries, his left leg got swollen, and he has problems with sleep.

He was accused under part 1, Article 222, of the Criminal Code; in the house where he lives, a Kalashnikov submachine gun was found. At the same time, Abazov keeps stating that he had never had any weapons.

The resident of Kabardino-Balkaria asks to deal with "this lawlessness" and bring the militiamen who had tortured him to justice.

Azamat Abazov has addressed his complaints to the General Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, the head of the Investigatory Department for the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) of the Investigatory Committee under the Russian Prosecutor's Office, the Public Prosecutor of the KBR, the Ombudsman in the Russian Federation, and the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", which has placed the photos mentioned by the applicant on its website.

The HRC "Memorial" notes that it cannot confirm the guilt or innocence of the applicant, but, judging by the photos, Abazov was really beaten.

The "Memorial" has addressed the prosecutor's office with a request to check the facts presented in the application and institute criminal proceedings against the officials who had broken the norms of Russian legislation with regard to the detainee.

So far, law enforcement authorities have made no official comment on the case.