Rights defenders do not wonder about court's refusal to release Oyub Titiev

In Chechnya, the decision of the court to keep Oyub Titiev in custody was expected, stated his colleagues who attended the today's court hearing. They believe the prosecution of Oyub Titiev will not stop the activities of rights defenders in Chechnya. 

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today, the Supreme Court (SC) of Chechnya has considered an appeal against the extension of the arrest for Oyub Titiev, the head of the HRC "Memorial" office in Grozny, and refused to release him under guarantees of rights defender Svetlana Gannushkina and cosmonaut Sergey Nefyodov. The SC ignored the defence arguments able to confirm that the case against Oyub Titiev had been falsified, reported advocates of the defendant. 

The court's decision was predictable, although "every advocate always hopes that the arguments will be heard," advocate Pyotr Zaikin told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent after the court hearing. 

Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, Conflict Analysis and Prevention Centre director, said she was also not surprised by the court's decision. She believes the case against Oyub Titiev had been fabricated. However, according to Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, that will not prevent rights defenders from working in Chechnya. "All of us will work even more," said the rights defender.