12:30, 21 August 2015

Sergey Kaziev sentenced in episodes of assaulting OVD and "Arsenal"

The SIZO (pre-trial prison) in Nalchik. Photo: http://www.07.fsin.su/structure/sizo.php

Sergey Kaziev, who died in the SIZO (pre-trial prison) in Nalchik, was sentenced to 14.5 years of imprisonment for episodes of the attacks on the OVD-1 (Interior Division) and shop "Arsenal". Prior to sentencing, Sergey Kaziev was under recognizance not to leave, and in his final speech, he asked the court not to deprive him of his liberty.

On May 22, 2015, Sergey Kaziev declared a hunger strike demanding to escort him to a place of punishment. Several days ago, he stopped his hunger strike. This was reported by advocate Liza Shak.

On December 23, 2014, five defendants in the case of the attack on Nalchik were sentenced to life imprisonment, three defendants were released due to consideration of the period already served by them, and the others were sentenced by the court to 9-23 years of imprisonment. Human rights activists have noted that the number of the defendants in the case include persons, whose involvement in the attack is questionable.

Law enforcers detained Sergey Kaziev in Moscow on May 6, 2006. He was detained because of the information about his involvement in the attack on the OVD-1. This was reported by Arsen Tishkov, the former head of the Division to combat religious extremism of the Department to combat organized crimes of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

At the court session held on June 1, 2009, Sergey Kaziev fell ill, and after that the defendants announced their decision to go on hunger strike in protest against the "purposeful intention to deprive Sergey Kaziev of his life."

After his detention and during the trial, Sergey Kaziev has repeatedly claimed that he needed urgent medical treatment. In June 2009, under the threat of a hunger strike of 40 defendants, the court agreed to grant Sergey Kaziev full medical treatment at the AIDS centre.

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