Ingush law enforcers violate rights of Arthur Gatagazhev's family members, rights defenders assert

During the detention of Gatagazhev family members, who arrived from Samara to the funeral of Arthur Gatagazhev, law enforcers committed a number of violations of the law. Several complaints filed by the Gatagazhev family members have been already confirmed. This was reported by Ingush Ombudsman Djambulat Ozdoev.

In the morning of May 24, during the special operation conducted in the village of Sagopshi, seven persons were killed, including the man, who was identified as Arthur Gatagazhev, the emir of Ingush militants.

On May 26, the relatives of Arthur Gatagazhev, who came to the funeral to Ingushetia from Samara, were detained in Malgobek. Policemen released most of the detainees. However, Zurab and Ibragim, the Arthur Gatagazhev's brothers, were taken into custody on suspicion of drug trafficking. Their mother claims the detainees are not allowed to be visited by advocate.

A staff member of the Ingush Ombudsman's Office has visited Zurab and Ibragim Gatagazhev in the SIZO (pre-trial prison). "The violations have been eliminated: an advocate was allowed to visit the detainees, and relatives were allowed to pass food products for them... If the complaints against the detention of Category I invalids and minors are confirmed, we will do our best to ensure to bring the guilty persons to justice," Ingush Ombudsman Djambulat Ozdoev has said.

Staff members of the Ingush Ombudsman's Office are preparing a complaint with the description of the abuses to be filed to the Ingush Prosecutor. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Magomet Tsitskiev, the head of the department for citizens' appeals and restoration of violated rights.