Three law enforcers suspected of torturing tourist in Abkhazia

Policemen have exceeded their powers by using violence when detaining and interrogating a Russian tourist, the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of Abkhazia has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in May 2021, Artyom Russkikh, a resident of Saint Petersburg, stated that he had returned from his vacation in Abkhazia with fractured ribs and bruises. Local law enforcers, having suspected him in links with drug dealers, beat him up, threatened to rape him, hung him up on a tree and drowned in a mountain river, says a "Mediazona" article.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Gagra District has opened a criminal case against three law enforcers, Alexander Popkov, an advocate, who cooperates with the "Zona Prava" (Law Zone), told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The head of the republic's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) removed them (law enforcers) from performing their official duties," the advocate has added.

The policemen are suspected of exceeding their powers with the use of weapons and special means; an inquiry in underway in relation to other unidentified law enforcers, Mr Popkov has noted.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 15, 2021 at 09:31 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.