08:19, 19 February 2019

Arrest of Dagestani blogger Alibek Mirzekhanov postponed

Alibek Mirzekhanov in a prison cell. Photo: screenshot of the post in saad_rfg's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BuCGGY0h6Cc/

The court has postponed the selection of a freedom restraint measure to blogger Alibek Mirzekhanov, detained within the case of a mass brawl in Moscow, until February 21. Alibek has an alibi; but he testified against himself under pressure, his relatives and defence assert.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Mirzekhanov disappeared on February 16, after law enforcers visited his apartment.

According to eyewitnesses, some 50-100 people, natives of Chechnya and Azerbaijan, took part in the brawl in Moscow on February 15. The conflict, according to sources, broke out after mutual insults on social networks.

According to investigators, Mirzekhanov acted in conspiracy with others.

According to Shamil Yandarbaev, his advocate, his client "has a 'reinforced concrete' alibi." "Alibek was intimidated during the search; and he testified against himself," the TASS quotes Mr Yandarbaev as saying.

According to Mansur Mansurov, Mirzekhanov's brother, the blogger has nothing to do with the shootout. He had moved to Moscow for security reasons, since several years ago he was kidnapped in Dagestan, the "Kavkaz.Realii" reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 18, 2019 at 11:28 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Oleg Krasnov

Source: CK correspondent