Dagestani court convicts Abakarova for possessing "suicide belt"

Today, the Sovietskiy District Court of Makhachkala has sentenced Sabina Abakarova, charged with illegal possession of weapons, to six months in custody, which she has already served during the investigation and trial, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Abakarova's case arrived at the court on January 30, 2014. She was accused of keeping a "suicide bomber's belt". The defendant insists that the above "belt" was planted during the search.

According to the HRC, at the beginning of the today's session Sabina Abakarova pronounced her last plea stating that a search of her apartment was conducted with violations; and there is no direct or circumstantial evidence pointing to her involvement in any crime.

"Also, Abakarova said that she had never violated the law; she was not registered by and had been never brought to the police. Her criminal case has damaged her reputation; and unscrupulous law enforcers were blamed for that. She added that she had been illegally detained for six months," says the press release of the HRC "Memorial" sent today to the "Caucasian Knot".

According to human rights activists, Abakarova's advocates intend to appeal against the verdict and seek her full acquittal.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.