Akhkubekov, defendant in Nalchik attack case, continues hunger strike in SIZO

Farida Tuganova, an advocate of Azamat Akhkubekov, a figurant in the Nalchik attack case, said that her client continues his hunger strike announced on April 8 in the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of the capital of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR). According to her story, Akhkubekov is kept in the dungeon for a long time and lost 10 kilos of his body weight during his protest action.

On Monday, April 28, Akhkubekov was visited in the dungeon by a commission of the KBR's Ombudsperson, headed by Adviser Mustafa Taukenov, Alyona, Azamat's wife, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent and added that the commission failed to persuade Azamat stop his hunger strike.

Akhkubekov put forward a number of demands, in particular, to return him to his earlier cell. According to his version, his transfer to another cell with worse custody conditions was caused by his complaint lodged against the detention regime. He also demands to stop manhandling by SIZO personnel and restore receipt of parcels in accordance with the federal law: the advocate has explained that earlier the Nalchik SIZO introduced restrictions on transfer of some foodstuffs.

Akhkubekov is kept in the dungeon since March 26. According to his wife, he was put there after refusing to move from a double cell into a six-bed one.