US Department of State calls on to release Oyub Titiev

The US Department of State has appealed to the Russian authorities with a call to release Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", accused of drug possession, as well as sentenced Oleg Sentsov and Stanislav Klykh, recognized as political prisoners.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since January 11, Oyub Titiev is under arrest on the charge of marijuana possession. He pleaded not guilty and stated that the drugs were planted on him by a law enforcer. On June 14, the EU Parliament adopted a resolution with a request to free Oyub Titiev from the charges.

Heather Neuert, Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, called on the Russian authorities to release all those identified as political prisoners, the RBC reports today.

In particular, according to Heather Neuert, the US is concerned about the fate of Oyub Titiev, Oleg Sentsov, and Stanislav Klykh.

"We call on Russia to release all those identified as political or religious prisoners immediately and cease its use of the legal system to suppress dissent," declares the statement dated June 18 and posted on the website of the US Department of State.

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