Relatives criticize refusal to transfer Cherkesov to another colony

The Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia (known as FSIN) has refused to transfer Aslan Cherkesov, a native of Nalchik, from a colony in the Krasnoyarsk Territory closer to his home, referring to security concerns, his relatives have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in mid-October, Aslan Cherkesov, a native of Nalchik, convicted for the murder of a football fan Yegor Sviridov, handed over to human rights defenders an appeal about violations of prisoners' rights in his colony located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. On November 5, Sonya Cherkesova, the convict's 72-year-old mother, appealed to President Putin, asking him to transfer her son from the Krasnoyarsk Territory to a colony closer to the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR); she noted that she is disabled and could not travel thousands kilometres to visit her son; while Aslan himself was tortured in the colony.

For the last time, Aslan Cherkesov's relatives saw him three years ago, his mother Sonya Cherkesova and sister Anna Cherkesova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In mid-October, when Aslan Cherkesov handed over his appeal, the sister turned to the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO), but no response has yet been received.

The sister noted that she had also addressed the Russian President and was at a personal reception at the Presidential Administration.

"They received and listened to me; however, said that the transfer issue should be solved by the FSIN, but they answer from there that there were no grounds for the transfer. They also write that Aslan staying in the Krasnoyarsk Territory is preferable for his safety. Obviously, these are just formal replies. Inside the Krasnoyarsk Territory, he was transferred from one colony to another at the distance of up to 500 kilometres, but moving him closer to home is not allowed," Anna Cherkesova has complained.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 7, 2018 at 08:37 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.