Chair of KChR’s POC claims local authorities block activities

Asiyat Khabicheva, the Chair of the Public Oversight Commission (POC) of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) of new composition, has sent an appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which she claims that local authorities put pressure to members of the newly formed POC.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 9, the composition of the POC of the KChR of new convocation was approved, and it included 12 members of seven NGOs of the republic. It is planned that in the fourth quarter of this year, the POC is to carry out monitoring and analysis of the situation with the rights of citizens in penitentiary institutions.

Yesterday, on November 14, Asiyat Khabicheva, the Chair of the regional POC, sent by e-mail a letter of appeal to Vladimir Putin. "On Sunday, November 9, 2014, we held a meeting. Now, each of the POC members, who attended the meeting, is being called 'for reprimand' and threatened. They try to force us to write letters of refusal to work as members of the POC and thus to defeat the POC of Karachay-Cherkessia," Asiyat Khabicheva writes in her appeal.

According to her, two weeks ago, the leaders of the Public Chamber of the KChR also started inhibiting the activity of the POC.

"They illegally intervene in our competence and block our activities. This occurs, since during the previous period of our activities, we have succeeded in stopping the use of torture against detainees," the Chair of the POC notes. Asiyat Khabicheva requests the Russian President to support the protection of the rights to continue the POC's activities.

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