Prosecution witness states innocence of Ingush protest leaders

None of the defendants entered into physical confrontation with "Rosgvardia" (Russian National Guard) agents, a prosecution witness in the case of Ingush activists has declared.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the case of seven protest leaders in Ingushetia, who are accused of creating an extremist community, is being considered by the court since November 24, 2020.

On June 22, the Essentuki City Court held another session on the above case, Magomed Kuriev, one of the advocates, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "A witness for the prosecution, an elderly resident of Ingushetia, was questioned," the advocate has explained.

The witness said that none of the defendants entered into physical confrontation with "Rosgvardia" servicemen, on the contrary, they tried to calm down the youth, persuaded them not to succumb to provocations, said Kuriev. "Thus, another prosecution witness gave testimony in defence of the protest leaders, just like all the earlier prosecution witnesses: both civilians and 'Rosgvardia' agents and policemen," the advocate has concluded.

Also, video materials were presented to the court, showing that Musa Malsagov, Akhmed Barakhoev, Barakh Chemurziev and Malsag Uzhakhov tried to calm down the youth after the second failed assault undertaken by law enforcers, Mr Kuriev has added.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 22, 2021 at 11:29 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.