Shikhakhmedov's defence tells about his refusal to defame Dagestani officials

Aslan Shikhakhmedov, a former employee of the Derbent District Administration, whose kidnapping was reported by his relatives, was found in a Makhachkala SIZO (pre-trial prison), his advocate Murad Velikhanov has stated, adding that law enforcers demanded from Shikhakhmedov to testify against officials of the Derbent District Administration.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Shikhakhmedov's relatives have been trying to establish his whereabouts since February 8. According to their story, Shikhakhmedov was kidnapped in Derbent.

According to Mr Velikhanov, his client is kept in one of Makhachkala SIZOs.

"He told me that he was detained in Derbent and brought to Makhachkala. Until February 11, he was alternately kept in the building of one of power structures, or in a room of one of Makhachkala hotels. Law enforcers were all the time with him in the hotel," said the advocate, referring to Shikhakhmedov's words.

According to Murad Velikhanov, "there was no physical pressure on his client." "However, he was under psychological pressure; they demanded from him to slander a number of officials of the Derbent District Administration, to evidence that he had received money allegedly intended for bribing officials. However, he told nothing of the kind to law enforcers," said the advocate.

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