ECtHR communicates complaint of law enforcers fired after rally in Magas

In their complaint submitted to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the former inspectors of the patrol-and-post service (PPS) of the Ingush Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), claimed the political pretext of their firing.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the investigation into the criminal case of former police inspectors, accused of failing to fulfil the order to disperse protesters in Magas in March 2019 was completed this June. The defendants insist that no orders were received from their bosses to disperse the rally; and the criminal case on abuse of office was initiated due to their attempt to defend their rights in court.

The ECtHR has communicated the complaint of 13 former PPS inspectors of the Ingush MIA. The fired policemen claim the political motive of their bosses' decision to dismiss them, as well as the expulsion from universities and criminal prosecution, the "Kommersant" wrote on August 3.

According to Olga Gnezdilova, a lawyer for the "Legal Initiative" Project*, who represents the interests of the former PPS inspectors at the ECtHR, the point is about the punishment for expressing their position stated in accordance with the law. "The inspectors' aim was to protect citizens from violence - this is the most important criterion for the ECtHR," Ms Gnezdilova told the "Kommersant".

*The organization was included by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) of Russia into the register of non-commercial organizations (NCOs)-foreign agents.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 4, 2021 at 05:19 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.