KBR: relatives and advocates of imprisoned Muslims claim being not aware of their hunger strike

Relatives and advocates of 50 imprisoned Muslims, who went on hunger strike against the obstruction in the performance of religious rites in the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of Nalchik, claim being not aware of the protest action.

Let us remind you that on June 12, about 50 Muslims went on hunger strike in the SIZO of the capital of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR). They went on hunger strike to protest against the obstruction in the performance of religious rites, turning off electric light at nights, switching off the sockets and refusal to accept transfers from relatives. This was reported by bloggers. The information on the protest action was received by SMS-service of the "Caucasian Knot".

Defendant Azret Shavaev, who has delivered his speech at the court hearing held on June 16, claims that the defendants accused of the events of October 13, 2005, are not provided with such a food product as meat. Azret Shavaev has noted that the defendants repeatedly protested against that fact and filed letters of complaint. "However, the SIZO administration adheres to the same policy," Azret Shavaev has said.

A source from the KBR's Department of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN) has told that the claims concerning availability of meat are groundless. According to the source, the regulations of the FSIN Department prohibit to pass domestic meat products to the SIZO inmates, except for smoked meat.

See earlier reports: "Azamat Akhkubekov, figurant in Nalchik attack case, stops hunger strike in SIZO", "Timur Tangiev, kept in Grozny SIZO, attempts suicide and goes on hunger strike", "UFSIN: two figurants in the attack on Nalchik case are on hunger strike at SIZO."