23:07, 27 May 2021

Akhmed Pogorov arrested in case on an extremist community

Akhmed Pogorov. Photo: press service of the HRC 'Memorial'

The court returned Ingush activist Akhmed Pogorov to custody after he had been charged under the article on extremism. The court hearing took place at night, and the defence was not notified about it, claims advocate Magomed Gagiev.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in late May, Akhmed Pogorov was transferred under house arrest and was soon hospitalized, but the police took him out of the hospital and brought him to Yessentuki in a reanimation car. The law enforcers explained their actions by the need for investigative actions.

On March 26, 2019, residents of Ingushetia continued their protest rally in Magas without a sanction from the authorities. In the morning on March 27, protesters clashed with the police. Starting since the early April of 2019, mass arrests of oppositionists took place in Ingushetia. The case of seven Ingush protest leaders, accused of creating an extremist community in connection with the rally in Magas, is being considered since November 24, 2020, by the Essentuki City Court.

At about 11:00 p.m. Moscow time on May 26, Denis Bulgakov, Judge of the Essentuki City Court, pronounced a decision to take Akhmed Pogorov into custody for two months, until July 25, reported advocate Magomed Gagiev, representing Akhmed Pogorov’s interests under an agreement with the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Memorial”*.

“They took my client to the court at night and held a hearing! This is a precedent in my practice!” said Magomed Gagiev as quoted in the today’s post at the website of the HRC “Memorial”.

Magomed Gagiev explained that Akhmed Pogorov was returned to custody because of the charge under the article on extremism brought against him. “He was charged with participation in an extremist community, but until now he was charged under Part 3 of Article 33 and Part 2 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organizing the use of violence against public officers),” Magomed Gagiev said. According to the advocate, the court violated the right to defence by not notifying the advocate about the night court hearing, the “Interfax” reports today.

* the HRC "Memorial" is recognized in the Russian Federation as a foreign agent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 27, 2021 at 04:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.