Resident of Kabardino-Balkaria claims having been beaten by police

Khadis Kodzokov, a resident of the village of Dugulubgei of the Baksan Region of Kabardino-Balkaria, reported on his detention and beating at the police station of the Baksan District.

"On March 24, at about 10:00 a.m., people in masks and camouflage broke into the house of Kodzokov family. They forced Khadis Kodzokov into a car and brought him to the police station of the Baksan District. According to Khadis Kodzokov, he managed to ask his parents to inform lawyer Elena Bairamkulova about his detention. At the police station, Khadis Kodzokov was brought into the office and knocked on the floor; they asked him if he knew, who was hiding from law enforcement agencies and whether he was a member of illegal armed formations (IAFs) and whether he provide assistance to IAFs. In response to negative answers, one of the police officers began to beat Khadis Kodzokov with a butt of a submachine gun," states the message of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", to where Khadis Kodzokov filed a complaint on March 27.

According to Khadis Kodzokov, power agents threatened him that if he did not give the information needed, then "he would be in the Baksan River with a grenade in his pocket." "Then, they asked him how he knew the lawyer Elena Bairamkulova. According to him, the police officers, who beat him, were drunk," states the HRC "Memorial".

According to the HRC "Memorial", the lawyer of Khadis Kodzokov filed a complaint to the prosecutor's office about unlawful actions of the police officers. On March 25, Khadis Kodzokov was released. "On March 26, he underwent a medical examination. Experts have registered on his body concussion of the chest, bruises on his head and on his left and right hips. Khadis sent to the prosecutor's office a complaint against unlawful actions of the police officers. Meanwhile, he feared for his life and health, and he afraid of revenge of the police officers," stated the HRC "Memorial".

At present, the "Caucasian Knot" has no comments from the law enforcement officials on the accusations voiced by Khadis Kodzokov.