In KChR, about 40 people picket against torture

In the city of Cherkessk, picketers against torture have failed to meet the bosses of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the Supreme Court of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) and give them information about violations of detainees' rights.

"We wanted to meet the head of the MIA and talk, but he didn't come out. Just MIA officers went out and said that their boss could not help, and advised us to address the Prosecutor's Office," Albina Shebzukhova, one of the picketers, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to her story, her brother Murat was being tortured in the Centre for Combating Extremism of the MIA of KChR.

She added that through the efforts of relatives, an independent examination was conducted, which fixed traces of beatings on her brother.

On September 9, 2013, Murat Shebzukhov was taken from SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison) of Cherkessk to the building of the UBOP (Department to Combat Organized Crime) of the KChR, according to the website of the international public human rights movement "Edinstvo" (Unity). The torture continued for 24 hours. Unable to withstand the torture, Shebzukhov cut up his belly," human rights activists said at a press conference on October 9 in Cherkessk, noting that they had sent letters about this fact to "all structures".

"We demand to change the freedom restriction measure of Ruslan Rakhaev into detention. I also want to seek justice and demand to punish all those involved in the death of my husband," said Larissa, the widow of Dakhir Djankezov. According to her story, the victim's family is not against a re-investigation.

The action resulted in a decision to hold a rally, the date of which was not specified.