In Kabardino-Balkaria, advocate claims arbitrariness of Baksan police

Advocate Aralbek Dumanishev has filed to the Investigating Department for Kabardino-Balkaria of the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) and the Prosecutor's Office for Kabardino-Balkaria a complain about the actions of staff members of the Baksan OVD (Interior Division). According to Aralbek Dumanishev, his client Murad Pshikhachev, a resident of Baksan, was tortured, forced to waive the advocate, and forced out of the Baksan OVD.

"Murad was detained on April 22, when he went for his duty at a greenhouse farm, where he worked as a service engineer. He said that a grenade and drugs were planted to him; then, he was forced to a Gazel van, brought to some unknown destination, and tortured in the car. After that, he was brought to the police station," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by an advocate.

On April 23, the advocate came to the OVD, where he found his client, who was feeling bad, at the investigator's office. Aralbek Dumanishev called an ambulance. "Doctors examined him, and it was found that he got his knees injured and that his body bore signs of thermal burns. The detainee explained that he had been tortured," Aralbek Dumanishev has said.

"It seems the policemen did not like my actions, and they asked me to leave the office. When I refused, they used force against me. As a result, my jacket was torn, and my voice recorder was stolen. Then, I was told that my client waived my services. I waited when an appointed advocate came, explained the situation to him, and he refused to enter the case," Aralbek Dumanishev has stated.

According to the advocate, his client was charged under articles of illegal purchase, possession, manufacture of drugs and illegal purchase, possession or carrying of weapons, explosive devices.

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