Advocate Sapiyat Magomedova: Makhachkala SIZO refuses defenders in visiting their clients

In Makhachkala, warders of the SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison) unreasonably require from advocates investigators' sanctions to visit their clients. This was stated by advocate Sapiyat Magomedova in her complaint sent on November 10 to the Prosecutor's Office of Dagestan. In her complaint, the advocate has described a similar case from her own practice and asked to carry out a prosecutor's check.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has been told by Sapiyat Magomedova, who starting from October 5 represents the interests of Sh. Gaziev, a resident of Makhachkala, on October 11, she was refused to visit her client because of absence of an official permit issued by investigator.

Sapiyat Magomedova treats the above refusal as violation of the law on advocacy. The advocate had to go to the investigator for the official permit and submit it to the SIZO.

Besides, in her complaint, the advocate also notes that the prevention of refusing an advocate in visiting a client "will contribute to prevention of psychological torture and psychological pressure on suspects at the early stages of the investigation."

Amirkhan Gasanov, a press officer of the Dagestani Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN), has doubted the veracity of the information announced by the advocate. According to Amirkhan Gasanov, no one creates any obstacles in the activities of advocates.

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