Book "The Innocent Found Guilty" presented in Grozny

The Grozny office of the Interregional Public Organization "Centre of Caucasian Initiative" has hosted a presentation of the book by Zoya Svetova "The Innocent Found Guilty", dedicated to inmates who serve their terms under fabricated cases. The presentation was attended by Zara Murtazalieva, a Chechen girl, who spent eight and a half years in a colony in Mordovia on charges of terrorism.

Zara Murtazalieva was released on September 3 this year and is currently in Chechnya.

"Some time ago Zara Murtazalieva's case shocked many journalists in Moscow. I covered the entire trial, and I'm convinced that she is absolutely innocent – the case was completely fabricated by the investigation; and the court passed an unjust and unfair sentence," said Zoya Svetova, the author of the book, who works as a correspondent of "The New York Times".

Zoya was so much impressed by Zara Murtazalieva's story that she began corresponding with the 20-year-old girl, and then began visiting her in the colony. Later Zoya Svetova wrote the book and was trying to seek for Zara's acquittal and release.

The book presents Zara Murtazalieva and other heroes under changed names. The only character who figures under his real name is Ramzan Kadyrov.

"I took a letter of Zara's mother to Ramzan Kadyrov and asked him to help: to promote her early relief or transfer her to serve the prison sentence in Chechnya. Unfortunately, Ramazan Kadyrov could do nothing, and she does not able to help her, and she served her term from start to finish; and it's very sad," said the author of the book.

"When the trial of Zara began, many of those who covered the process understood that the case was fabricated," said Abdullah Duduev, the chairman of the board of the Interregional Public Organization "Centre of Caucasian Initiative" and the deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine "Dosh". "The plastic explosive was planted on her – there were plenty of holes in the case, she was simply set up."

Zara Murtazalieva said that the most difficult for her was a constant reminder in the colony that she was a terrorist, and the accusations of what she had never committed.

Zara has not yet decided what she will do in the near future. "I'm offered to go training as a lawyer or a journalist – journalism is very close to me. But I've not decided yet – too little time has passed."