Trial on case of torture in Ingush MIA resumed

On June 4, after a break, the Karabulak Court of Ingushetia resumed court hearings on the case against Nazir Guliev and Ilyas Nalgiev, ex-officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), accused of torturing detainees.

The court hearings of April 10 were postponed till obtaining results of the new examination of witnesses' handwritings. Earlier, at the court session, held on April 5, the Court granted the defence motion to conduct re-examination of handwritings of witnesses Adam Nagadiev and Yakhya Kostoev.

The court session, held on June 4, announced the results of the examination of signatures on the investigation testimonies of three witnesses, who rejected their testimonies at the beginning of the process. "Moscow experts have concluded that the signatures are original," states the press release of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", sent today to the "Caucasian Knot" address.

Let us remind you that Ilyas Nalgiev, ex-Chief of the Karabulak Criminal Police, along with Nazir Guliev, ex-Chief of the Karabulak OVD (Interior Division), is a defendant in the resonant case of torture. Initially, 13 persons were victims in the case. The main episode of the case was torture of young Chechen Zelimkhan Chitigov committed by Ilyas Nalgiev himself and his subordinates. Zelimkhan Chitigov had to leave the territory of the Russian Federation because of threats from the defendants.

Earlier, Ilyas Nalgiev stated that he could not take part in detention and torture of Zelimkhan Chitigov, since at that time he got medical treatment in hospital. On March 1, at the trial, two witnesses confirmed Ilyas Nalgiev's alibi. The court session, held on March 12 and 15, also listened to defence witnesses.