"Memorial" reports persecution of activists in Stavropol Territory

Law enforcers have searched the apartment of activist Darya Atdaeva, who demanded to investigate the circumstances of the killing of two people in a special operation in Nevinnomyssk, human rights defenders have informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 4, the FSB announced about two persons killed during a shootout in Nevinnomyssk and called them to be leaders of a religious extremist unit. The alleged militants killed during the special operation in Nevinnomyssk were identified as the local residents Sultan Khitsunov and Mekhti Imammov.

The search of the apartment of Darya Atdaeva, a 30-year-old Nevinnomyssk activist, was held on December 6, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" said in its statement received by the "Caucasian Knot" on December 10.

According to rights defenders, Darya Adtaeva, who converted to Islam while studying at the Stavropol State Pedagogical Institute, was persecuted because of her religious beliefs and active civil stand. Annamurad Atdaev, Daria's husband, who is a Turkmen citizen, was convicted on charges of extremism after he had refused to cooperate with special agencies as an agent, says the statement of the HRC "Memorial".

Ms Adtaeva lived in Egypt with her mother and children for some time, but on October 11, 2018, she returned to Russia.

Human rights defenders associate the pressure on Darya Adtaeva with her statements about the special operation in Nevinnomyssk. She demanded to investigate the circumstances of this operation, as casualties' relatives and friends have no trust in the official version of law enforcers.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 11, 2018 at 03:23 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.