HRC "Memorial": verdict to Zarema Bagavutdinova is unfair and politically motivated

The verdict to Zarema Bagavutdinova, an activist of the Dagestani Regional Public Organization (DRPO) "Pravozaschita" (Advocacy), convicted to five years in prison on charges of promoting terrorist activities, is unjust and politically motivated, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the above verdict was handed down by the court of Buynaksk on May 21. She was found guilty of the fact that in November 2011 she recruited a native of Dagestan Mamma Dalgatov to participate in the armed underground. The state prosecution asked for six years in prison for the activist.

In her last plea, Bagavutdinova said that the state prosecution based its conclusions on false witnesses, who were "urgently found for the trumped-up case", and whose testimonies were vague and contradictory. She also said that the preliminary investigation offered her to plead guilty in exchange for a more lenient sentence, but she refused, says the report of the HRC.

Bagavutdinova spoke against the transfer of her daughter to guardianship bodies. According to her story, she has relatives who can take care of the child, the HRC "Memorial" reports.

Earlier, the HRC "Memorial" recognized Bagavutdinova as a political prisoner pursued because of her social activities.