18:06, 7 March 2020

Akhmed Chakhkiev, a rally participant in Magas, arrested

Rally in Magas, March 26, 2019. Photo by Umar Yovloi for the Caucasian Knot

The Nalchik City Court has ruled to arrest Ahmed Chakhkiev, a participant in the rally held in Magas. He was detained by law enforcers the day before, and then placed into the isolation facility.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 5, Ingush law enforcers conducted searches, within the investigation into last year's clashes in Magas, in three dwelling settlements. Two residents of the republic were detained – Akhmed Chakhkiev and Akhmed Doggie. Another local resident was announced wanted.

On March 26, 2019, opponents of the Chechen-Ingush border agreement, who also succeeded in seeking the resignation of Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Evkurov, did not leave the square after the sanctioned rally in Magas. When the police tried to disperse them, clashes occurred between the protestors and law enforcers. Since early April 2019, mass arrests of activists have been taking place in the republic.

On the same day, four other persons were detained, but later released. Mr Chakhkiev was arrested under the article "Use of violence against a state official" at a rally in Magas, which was convoked against the new border with Chechnya, the Mediazona" reported on March 6.

In total, after the rally in Magas, criminal cases were opened against 42 persons, including Chakhkiev. He was detained, taken for interrogation to Nalchik, and then sent to a temporary detention facility (known as IVS), the "Ekho Moskvy" radio reported on March 6.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 7, 2020 at 07:51 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.