Ruslan Ismailov brutally tortured, his lawyer from "Kavkaz" Bar asserts

Ruslan Ismailov (previously his name was reported as Rustam), who was detained on June 23 in Makhachkala on suspicion of possession of fire arms, was subjected to severe torture. This was stated by Gadjimurad Izmailov, a lawyer from the "Kavkaz", representing the interests of Ruslan Ismailov. The lawyer has also stated that he was told at the IVS (temporary detention facility) at the GUVD (City Interior Department) of Makhachkala that Ruslan Ismailov waived his services of a lawyer. The lawyer himself had not seen his client since June 23.

"On June 23, at 10:00 a.m., I met Ruslan at the IVS of Makhachkala. His entire body was covered with bruises, and his entire face was a haematoma. Ruslan was scared, and he said that he was tortured and severely beaten. They tied wires to his genitals, drove wire into his nails and then passed an electric current, and applied other torture. I wanted to invite a doctor to documentary register the fact of torture and to tell the media about unlawful methods of interrogation; however, Ruslan asked me not to do anything yet," Gadjimurad Izmailov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

On June 25, Gadjimurad Izmailov was told at the IVS that Ruslan Ismailov waived his services of a lawyer.

The lawyer has also added that he never received a waive letter. "I asked them to give me Ruslan's statement; however, I was informed that the document was held by Vadim Mukov, investigator for especially important cases of the Investigatory Committee of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD), which was not at his working place at that moment," the lawyer stated.

Gadjimurad Izmailov said that he had already filed a complaint about massive violations of the law to the Prosecutor's Office of Dagestan.

"They (appointed lawyers) work hand in hand with other services and follow their interests, and they are hardly interested in defending anyone whatsoever. And there is nothing ambiguous in the situation with Gadjimurad Izmailov: someone did not like his activity for the defence of Ruslan Ismailov and the latter was forced to waive the services of the lawyer," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by lawyer Gazimagomed Khiriev, the colleague of Gadjimurad Izmailov.

Officer on duty at the IVS at the GUVD of Makhachkala stated in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he knew nothing of the fact of detention and torture of Ruslan Ismailov.