Relatives of missing Dagestani residents claim being pressured by law enforcers

Law enforcers demanded from relatives of Gashim Uzdanov, Islam Magomedov, and Pakhrudin Makhaev, who disappeared in Dagestan, to refuse holding protest actions and threatened them with administrative arrest in case of their disobedience. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by a relative of one of the disappeared men.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 4, it became known that relatives of Dagestani residents Gashim Uzdanov, Pakhrudin Makhaev, Islam Magomedov, and Shamil Djamalutdinov appealed to the office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" and asked for assistance in establishing the whereabouts of the disappeared men. Starting from October 5, they held a number of protest actions in Makhachkala, demanding from the authorities to inform them about the whereabouts of their relatives, who disappeared on September 27.

On October 13, law enforcers had a conversation with the relatives of disappeared Dagestani residents Islam Magomedov, Pakhrudin Makhaev, and Gashim Uzdanov and warned them about administrative responsibility in case of holding unauthorized protests in Khasavyurt. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Yakhsat Magomedova.

"They summoned the parents of my husband Islam Magomedov. Parents of Pakhrudin Makhaev and Gashim Uzdanov were also summoned to the police… They were shown protocols drawn up against the parents of all the guys, who disappeared on September 27. The relatives were told that in case if they did not cancel a rally, all of them would be sent to prison for organizing an unsanctioned rally and for disturbing public order," said the woman.

According to her, despite the threats, the relatives of the disappeared residents of Dagestan are going to continue their protest actions.

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