08:58, 10 February 2021

Chechen Djumaev, arrested for brawl with law enforcers, hospitalized with COVID-19 suspicion

Said-Mukhammad Djumaev (on the right) in the courtroom. Photo by the press service of the Presnensky District Court of Moscow

Said-Mukhammad Djumaev, a native of Chechnya, arrested after a brawl with law enforcers at a rally in Moscow, has been hospitalize due to suspected coronavirus.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 23, in Moscow, Djumaev entered into a confrontation with law enforcers at a rally in support of the opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. The video of the incident caused a wide public outcry. Djumaev is under arrest until March 23, he is accused of using violence against state officials.

The resonance around Djumaev's story was caused by the fact that he became the first Chechen in many years to take the side of the opposition, the blogger, Musa Lomaev, and the human rights defender, Oyub Titiev, have noted. Djumaev can avoid real imprisonment for a brawl with the law enforcers if he admits his guilt, lawyers have suggested.

On February 15, the Presnya Court in Moscow will consider an appeal against Djumaev's arrest, the "Interfax" reports citing the press service of the court.

In the video with Djumaev, recorded at the protest action, his friend says that Djumaev takes to streets not so much for Navalny as for the change in the situation in the country.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 9, 2021 at 05:58 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.