Lawyer: at Cherkessk SIZO detainee was forced to reject advocate

Abudul-Muslim Suleimanov, who was detained in Makhachkala and placed into the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of the city of Cherkessk, was tortured and forced to refuse from the advocate, the lawyer Elvira Aidinova said. On July 13, she sent a statement in defence of Suleimanov's interests to the prosecutor's office, investigators and human rights defenders.

Suleimanov was detained on June 5 in Makhachkala on suspicion of committing a crime under Part 1, Article 222 (illegal possession of firearms and ammunition), and Part 1, Article 105 (murder), of the Russian Criminal Code. On June 8, he was convoyed to SIZO No. 1 of Cherkessk. In the words of the investigator, it was done for the sake of his safety and to avoid pressure on him by the victims, as the lawyer Aidinova wrote in her statement that has also arrived at the "Caucasian Knot" editorial board.

On July 11, Elvira Aidinova met her client Suleimanov and learned that he had been tortured with electric current. On July 12, SIZO wardens refused the lawyer to meet her client, saying that "Suleimanov has rejected Aidinova's services and asked to appoint an on duty advocate."

"I'm convinced that he had been forced to sign the refusal, if he had at all done it," said the woman.

She asks to take emergency measures of prosecutorial response, appoint a check and give a legal assessment of the actions of the investigator and the staff of the SIZO.