AI demands from Russian authorities to thoroughly investigate Magomed Khazbiev's beating and detention in Ingushetia

The international human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) and Heidi Hautala, chair of the subcommittee on human rights of the European Parliament, express their concern about the beating and detention in Ingushetia of Magomed Khazbiev, a civil activist, and his two brothers, who were arrested on March 23 in Nazran shortly after dispersal of a spontaneous protest action against violent disappearances. The head of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov instructed his power agents to provide him with all the necessary information about the oppositionist's detention.

The AI urges the Russian authorities to immediately release Magomed, Murad and Berd Khazbiev or to charge them of committing a criminal offence, said the AI's statement posted on its website on March 24.

The human rights organization notes that the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Republic of Ingushetia posted an official statement about detention of Magomed Khazbiev for "an attempt to organize mass riots," which also alleged that Magomed Khazbiev "rendered resistance to law enforcers with use of his traumatic gun. However, as stresses by the AI, the MIA's statement said nothing about the place of Magomed Khazbiev's custody and did not mention the fact of the arrest of Murad and Berd Khazbiev.

Besides, as the AI stresses, neither the lawyer nor their relatives were allowed to see the Khazbiev brothers immediately after their detention; their father Khamzat Khazbiev managed to get a permit to see his sons only late in the evening on March 23; while the lawyer was admitted to his clients only on March 24.

According to relatives, Khamzat Khazbiev noticed clear traces of beatings and traumas in his sons. Magomed Khazbiev himself, whom the AI managed to meet on March 24, reiterated that had been cruelly treated by the law enforcers who detained him and his brothers.

The human rights organization emphasized that the Khazbievs were beaten during detention in the eyes of women and children; and Khamzat Khazbiev a result of beating in his courtyard lost his consciousness.

The Amnesty International urges Russian authorities to respect the international law on human rights and the national legislation, which guarantee legal aid to the Khazbievs, adequate medical care and visits of their relatives throughout the whole period of detention; and also insists that the allegations about cruel and unlawful detention of Magomed Khazbiev and his brothers should immediately become the subject of thorough and impartial investigation.

Also the human rights organization urges the authorities to investigate the proportionality of the force used to disperse demonstrators in Nazran, as well as to check the compliance with international standards in human rights and provisions of the domestic law.

Besides, the AI calls on Russian authorities to investigate the allegations about the violent disappearance of Ilez Gorchkhanov, clear out his fate and whereabouts and notify his relatives.

The statement said that the AI had welcomed the latest information received from relatives about a possible start of investigation into alleged mistreatment and illegal detention of the Khazbievs.