In Dagestan, court pronounces verdicts against detained protesters

Eight residents of Makhachkala, who protested against unlawful methods of investigation in regard to Abdurakhman Magomedov, detained during special operation and later beaten during interrogation, were sentenced to 3-5 days of imprisonment.

On May 19, the Kirov ROVD (District Interior Division) was approached by relatives and friends of the persons detained after the special operation in Yubileinaya Street. A scuffle with policemen occurred. As a result, Magomed Ichalov, Zakir Salikhov, Salim Mirzabekov, Magomed Magomedov, Myamma Ramazanov, Shamil Gaparov, Azdar Vagabov, Artem Alkhasov, and Shamil Abdurazakov were detained.

The court hearings, which lasted only several minutes, were attended by lawyers of the detainees and by Arsen Osmanov, the representative of the Kirov ROVD (District Interior Division).

Elena Daudova, Magistrate of the judicial precinct No. 3 of the Kirov District of Makhachkala, considered the arguments of policemen submitted in the form of reports and protocols on administrative violations as more justified than the detainees' assertion of their innocence; therefore, every detainee was sentenced to 3-5 days of imprisonment.

Magomed Ichalov reported on circumstances of his own detention. "I was trying to separate people. I was suddenly grabbed by my neck; they pulled me up to them and began to beat. I did not see who beat me; however, at one moment I noticed a police officer jumped out of a car. He ran to me and wanted to strike me in my face; however, I turned around, so his stroke got to the back of my head. Then they tied me up and brought to the police station," he stated.

However, the detainees' lawyers do not intend to challenge the verdicts.