Defence treats guilt of Dagestani residents convicted for terrorism as unproved

The court refused to take into account the statements of five residents of the Agul District that their confessions were obtained under duress, the advocates have stated. The defence of the four convicts will appeal against the verdict, while the advocate of the acquitted Ali Aliev intends to achieve his rehabilitation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the court sentenced residents of the Agul District, namely, Ramazan Tagriverdiev, Ramazan Kurbanov, Rakhmatuly Magomedov and Gadada Ramazanov, to the prison terms from 10 to 18 years, finding them to be members of a terrorist community and an illegal armed formation (IAF). The fifth defendant, Ali Aliev, accused of plotting the murder of the head of the Agul District, was acquitted.

The court has established that in May 2015, in the village of Tpig, Agul District, Magomedov and Ramazanov united in a grouping to engage in terrorist activities. In June 2016, Tagriverdiev and Kurbanov joined this IAF, investigators believe. According to the prosecution, the grouping was involved in extorting a million roubles from a local resident, setting fire to alcohol shops and stealing property. The members of the grouping also prepared attempts on the lives of law enforcers and the head of the administration of the Agul District, investigators assert.

Aliev and other defendants stated about pressure and torture, but by results of the checks, no one was brought to justice, said Israfil Gadadov, an advocate. He has noted that the criminal prosecution inflicted material damage and moral harm on the family of his client Ali Aliev.