Court sentences resident of Ingushetia accused of helping militants conditionally

The Sunzha District Court has sentenced Usman Albakov, a resident of Ingushetia, accused of members of illegal armed formations (IAFs), to eighteen months' of conditional imprisonment.

In June 2012, Usman Albakov was detained law enforcers on suspicion of illegally purchasing ammunition. According to the lawyer Magomed Gandarov, Albakov was accused of assisting IAF members in buying and delivery of foodstuffs.

The oral arguments of the parties on Albakov's case were held on March 7, where the prosecutor demanded 2.5 years in prison.

As stated by his advocate Magomed Gandarov, in Usman Albakov's case there are no crime attributes. "Buying food for people is not a crime; and it was impossible to recognize it as a form of complicity. Generally, this is an absurd situation; however, such practice exists in our country; and we have to live with it," said Magomed Gandarov.

"Albakov was charged with buying food for IAF members; I don't think it's a terrible crime; it happened when he was only 17 years old, he was a minor; and there are no more serious crimes on him," said Timur Akiev, the head of the Ingush branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".