FSIN denies beating Aslan Cherkesov in SIZO

The head of the Department for the Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN) has denied the information that Aslan Cherkesov, convicted for murdering Yegor Sviridov, a football fan of the Moscow "Spartak" FC, was beaten in the SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison) cell.

According to the version of FSIN officials, on March 19, after the evening check of the inmates, Cherkesov fell down, while coming down from the upper tier of the plank bed, on his right leg, the IA "Press-Line".

According to the Department, Cherkesov gave no importance to his fall. However, on the following day he started limping and told his cellmates that he had hit his knee. He refused to address the medical unit of the SIZO-1.

"In the course of the preliminary check, no threats or facts of cruel treatment, humiliation or causing bodily injuries by violence to Cherkesov by his cellmates and SIZO-1 administration were established. When Cherkesov was kept at SIZO-1 of Krasnoyarsk, no physical force or special means were applied to him," the RIA "Novosti" quotes Nikolai Vasiliev, Deputy Head of the Chief Department of the FSIN for the Krasnoyarsk Territory, as saying.

Cherkesov's relatives refuse to believe the FSIN's version that Aslan got his trauma after falling down from the second tier. "When my son says that he was beaten, how can I believe that he fell down?" asked Sonya Cherkesova, Aslan's mother.

"If he had really fallen from the second tier, he could have injured his arm or leg. Hence, in this case, what is the origin of the bruises on his face and body?" Aslan's sister asked.