ICRF does not allow HRC to visit defendants accused of Boris Nemtsov's murder

The Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) has not allowed members of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to visit defendants in Boris Nemtsov murder case. The ICRF has treated the visit as inappropriate; however, investigators promised to check the information about the unlawful use of force against the suspects.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 27, opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was shot and killed in Moscow. Five persons, including Zaur Dadaev, Anzor and Shagid Gubashev, Khamzat Bakhaev and Tamerlan Eskerkhanov, were detained on suspicion of involvement in the murder. On March 10, Zaur Dadaev, Anzor and Shagid Gubashev complained to the members of the Public Monitoring Commission (PMC) about being tortured by law enforcers.

At the press conference held on March 12, Mikhail Fedotov, the head of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Council (HRC), has announced the plans to visit Zaur Dadaev and Gubashev brothers. Meanwhile, Mikhail Fedotov has added that he needs to get a permission of the investigators to realize the above plans.

Today, it has been reported that the ICRF has sent to Mikhail Fedotov a formal refusal concerning the planned visit. "Your visit together with K.V. Kabanov (Kirill Kabanov is a member of the HRC, note of the "Caucasian Knot") to the mentioned persons is inappropriate," states the ICRF's response to Mikhail Fedotov. Today, the "TASS" quotes the text with reference to the HRC office.

Besides, the ICRF's letter also notes that the information about the unlawful use of force against the suspects will be checked in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

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