In Astrakhan, relatives of detained Dagestanis hold a rally

On April 10, relatives of and sympathizers to the natives of Dagestan, accused of raping and kept in custody for more than two years, held a protest action against protraction of the investigation.

"The natives of Dagestan are accused of rape. The case was initiated illegally: there was no victim's application, and no identifications were held; the case was obviously customized. They were put behind bars back in summer of 2009, and they are still there, although their custody has exceeded 12 months. At the rally we tried to draw attention of those who are not indifferent to the fate of these young men," Svetlana Isaeva, head of the human rights organization "Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"This is not a nationwide rally - this is a rally in defence of all the abused, humiliated and offended," Magomed Magomedov, advocate of one of the suspects, said at the rally.

The lawyer described in detail all the violations, admitted, according to his story, in the course of the investigation. He stated that the case was customized; and that the authorities of Astrakhan are trying to kindle enmity between Caucasians and local residents. "To do this, in this case they make use of a girl, category I invalid. In this manner they want to oust Caucasians away from the Astrakhan land," said the lawyer.

The speakers also talked about the lawlessness perpetrated, in their opinion, in the judiciary and law enforcement system of the Astrakhan Region.

"When we came to the meeting with Bobrov (head of the investigatory committee of the Astrakhan Region, - note of the "Caucasian Knot"), we had a feeling that he treated us as second-grade people. He was just neglecting us. He said that Dagestanis 'are not normal and do everything abnormally'," said Asiyat, mother of Magomedov brothers accused of raping. Mr Bobrov gave no comments to these statements.