Relatives of Derbent residents accused of terrorism request to transfer case outside Dagestan

On February 6, relatives of three residents of Derbent accused of terrorism met Alexander Stepanov, the chief federal inspector for Dagestan, and asked for his assistance in transferring to the federal level the investigations into case on torture used against detainees.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Islam Barzukaev and Gasan Kurbanov, residents of Derbent, as well as Mirzaali Mirzaliev, who was detained with them on June 15, 2019, were suspected of illegal dealing with arms and ammunition. In their turn, they have stated that they had signed their confessions under torture and threats. Later, they were additionally charged with the participation in an illegal armed formation (IAF), and then – with the creation of a terrorist community. On January 27, in Makhachkala, relatives of the defendants held solo pickets with the demand "to stop the lawlessness in Dagestan."

On February 6, relatives of the three residents of Derbent arrested on the terrorism charges were admitted to Alexander Stepanov, the chief federal inspector for Dagestan.

Following the meeting, Alexander Stepanov promised to send appeals to the Investigating Department for Dagestan of the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) and the Prosecutor's Office for Dagestan with a request to conduct a thorough check in the case, said Elena Barzukaeva, a mother of one of the accused Derbent residents.

According to the woman, in order to be properly investigated, the case should be transferred to the federal level.

"All our appeals to the Dagestani authorities go in a circle, and it turns out that the law enforcement bodies check each other. I no longer see any sense in appealing to the local authorities. The case of the brutal torture of our children is not investigated here, and we only receive formal meaningless replies. Therefore, it is necessary to seek the investigation into our case outside Dagestan," Elena Barzukaeva suggested.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 7, 2020 at 08:45 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.