In Ingushetia, three persons detained during CTO released

The brothers Yunus and Yusuf Yandiev and Azamat Khamchiev, detained on September 28, 2011, in the course of the counterterrorist operation (CTO) in the Malgobek District of Ingushetia, have been released from custody under recognizance not to leave.

On September 28 in the morning, the CTO regime was introduced in the Malgobek District with the aim to search suspected militants and prevent prepared terror acts. Six suspects of involvement in illegal armed formations (IAFs) were detained. On the same day the CTO regime was cancelled.

The release of the Yandiev brothers and Azamat Khamchiev was announced today by their lawyer Bashir Tochiev.

"Now, my clients are at large under recognizance not to leave; they are accused under Articles 222 and 203 of the Criminal Code. Due to the fact that searches in their homes had been conducted with violations, we've lodged complaints to the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor's Office and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)," said the lawyer.

"Well before the arrival of employees of the local ROVD (District Interior Division), everything was turned upside down in their homes. That is, searches were conducted before the arrival of local policemen, which is also a violation. Then, a search should be conducted with witnesses, which was not the case; there were no search warrants either. In general, there were gross violations," said Bashir Tochiev.

So far, law enforcement officials gave no comments to the lawyer's statements.