Defence of Imam Magomedov treats verdict as gift to militants

The Dagestani Imam Magomednabi Magomedov, convicted today by the North-Caucasian District   Military Court, had received threats from militants, who demanded not to interfere with the departure of young people "to the forest," said Dagir Khasavov, the Imam's advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the above court found Magomednabi Magomedov, the Imam of the "Eastern" mosque of the city of Khasavyurt, guilty of inciting terrorism and sentenced him to five years in a general-security colony.

Earlier, the Imam's advocate said that he saw traces of beatings on his body. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" recognized Imam Magomedov as a political prisoner.

The verdict will be appealed against, advocate Dagir Khasavov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, in fact, the case files have no evidence of Imam's guilt.

Dagir Khasavov has noted that the Imam Magomedov had received threats from militants. "We told the court about it. He received memory sticks with threats and demands to 'stop preventing young people from leaving for the mountains.' Such judgments, like the today's one, is a perfect gift to the agitators, who call young people 'to go to the forest.' They will now tell the youth that 'the law does not exist, and there is no justice'," said Dagir Khasavov.

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