Stomakhin, arrested author of "Caucasus-centre" Chechen separatists' site, to be transferred to "Matrosskaya Tishina"

Boris Stomakhin, permanent author of the "Caucasus-centre" Chechen separatists' site, editor of the "Radikalnaya Politika" newspaper and co-chair of the Revolutionary Contact Association, arrested by militia in Moscow on March 21, is to be transferred from the special department of the city hospital No. 20 to the hospital department of the pre-trial prison "Matrosskaya Tishina." This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Regina Leonidovna, arrestee's mother.

Today, around 10 a.m., Regina Stomakhina came to visit her don at the special department of the city hospital No. 20, together with professor Sergey Sergeev, chief surgeon of the establishment, who had promised her to examine her son. The special department was guarded by militia, and mother was not allowed to see him from the time he had been placed there. According to Regina Leonidovna, traumotologist Sergeev returned a couple of minutes after coming into the Boris' ward. He told her that he could not examine the patient because he was to be transferred to "Matrosskaya Tishina" along with all medical documentation.

For reference, B. Stomakhin was detained by militiamen of the North-Eastern Administrative District (NEAD) of Moscow in connection with the criminal case initiated in December 2003. In April 2004 he was charged under Article 280, Part 2 (public calls for extremist activity, using mass media) and Article 282, Part 1 (stirring religious hatred, publicly or using mass media) of the RF CC. After S. Kolobova, investigating officer of the NEAD prosecutor's office, turned down Stomakhin's request to invite an expert from the Independent Association of Psychiatrists in order to conduct a psychiatric expert examination which she had appointed, B. Stomakhin left for Ukraine and asked for political asylum there but was refused. According to his friends, last year he returned home to Moscow.

When the militiamen who came to detain Stomakhin in March 21 demanded that he should open the door, B. Stomakhin, trying to escape through the window, fell down from the 4th floor. He was brought to the city hospital N0 20 with broken cannon-bone of his right leg and processes of two dorsals. When in hospital, Stomakhin was visited by investigating officer S. Kolobova with the criminal file materials, following which he was transferred to the limited access department of the hospital, guarded by militia.

Regina Stomakhina is concerned about her son's health. She claims that he should not be transported anywhere with a damaged spine. "During the first day when I visited him at the hospital on March 22, he was moved several times. First, from the reanimation to the surgery department. This is understandable, it was necessary. Then when the investigator came and ordered to transfer him to the special department, he asked the doctor in my presence: "Do not move me any more, I can not bear it, I feel bad." However, Kolobova insisted, and he was transferred to the limited access department where there is no proper care. If he were in the traumatology department, I would take care of him myself, but there they did not let me in without a pass. Investigator Kolobova, when seeing me at the hospital, shouted at the guards from our militia station: "Send her away." So, I have not seen Boris from the 22nd. Militia officers unwillingly agreed to take parcels for my son, naturally, with a bribe. Recently, he sent me a shor
t letter: "I am feeling so-so." When he writes this to his mother, it means that he is not feeling well," anxiously told Stomakhina, Boris' mother, to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The international group of Stomakhin's support reports that we is accused of "publishing information on the events connected with combat actions in Chechen-Ingushetia, adding it negative emotional connotation, and calling for changing the existing political regime by overthrowing the current state officials." The group of support, which includes, in particular, Akhiad Idigov, former head of the Committee for Foreign Affairs at the parliament of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, US human rights activist Nadezhda Banchik, Mairbek Taramov, director of the Chechen human rights centre based in Azerbaijan, has recently opened a site for protecting the journalist: zaborisa.narod.ru.

"We address all people of good will with a call to render support to the human rights activist who himself has become a regular victim of the terrorist Putin's regime. Stomakhin needs money for medical treatment and for a lawyer. He needs support of many people who are prepared to protest against despotism. He needs support of volunteers who could render him practical assistance in Moscow. All those who can and wish to give support with actions, money or speech are invited to provide what help they can," state members of the Stomakhin's support group.