Court extends arrest of North-Ossetian native accused of financing terrorism

A court has extended until June 12 the arrest of Giorgi Guev, a native of North Ossetia, who was accused of financing terrorism.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Giorgi Guev was detained in Moscow on May 16, 2019. According to investigators, during a search of his apartment, law enforcers found extremist materials and mobile phones with instructions from coordinators of the "Islamic State" (IS, a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by the court, – note of the "Caucasian Knot").

The defence demanded to release of Giorgi Guev from custody, since the preliminary investigation had been completed, the case had been handed over to a public prosecutor, and a trial date had already been scheduled. The investigators believe that being at large, Giorgi Guev may avoid the trial, put pressure on witnesses, and destroy evidence of crime.

According to the investigators, in the period from 2015 to 2019, Giorgi Guev was raising money on his bank card for IS militants and also for Israil Akhmednabiev (also known as Abu Umar Sasitlinsky), a well-known Dagestani preacher, a founder of the "Muhajirun" Islamic Foundation. Israil Akhmednabiev was wanted in a criminal case on terrorism. The investigators claimed that Giorgi Guev transferred for the IS at least 50 million roubles. However, the indictment mentions only the amount of 7201 roubles. Giorgi Guev himself pleads not guilty. According to the defendant, he made only several transfers to the "Living Heart" Foundation, dealing with the problem of shortage of drinking water in Africa.