16:06, 19 June 2018

Russian diplomats respond to US call to release Titiev

Oyub Titiev. Photo: press service of HRC "Memorial".

The US authorities have no moral right to demand the release of defendants or convicts in Russia, says the June 18 statement of Russia's Embassy in Washington.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the US State Department had urged Russian authorities to release all political prisoners, in particular, among them, Heather Neuert, US State Department's spokesperson, named Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

Oyub Titiev has been under arrest on the charge of marijuana possession since January 11.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.

According to the Russian Embassy's statement, the USA has no moral right to blame Russia and demand to release anyone.

"The American establishment have no even a moral right to blame Russia and demand to release anyone; moreover that Russian citizens are all the time hunted for in third countries," says the Embassy's statement.

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