Defendants in "Ingush case" refuse to answer court's questions

The defendants in the so-called "Ingush case", except Barakh Chemurziev and Bagaudin Khautiev, have refused to answer the questions of the court, fearing that the answers would be interpreted against them.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the case of seven Ingush protest leaders, accused of having created an extremist community, has been considered by the court since November 2020. At the session on September 14, a video was shown, from which it follows that the defendants tried to calm down the protesters in Magas, while law enforcers committed provocative actions.

At the session on October 5, the interrogation of Bagaudin Khautiev was completed. On the same day, according to Djabrail Kuriev, one of the advocates, Ismail Nalgiev, Malsag Uzhakhov and Zarifa Sautieva gave their testimonies.

The advocate has added that all the defendants, except for Chemurziev and Khautiev, gave only those testimonies that they considered necessary, and refused to answer the questions of investigators and the court.

Mr Kuriev has noted that for the first time he is watching a case, where all the prosecution witnesses testify only in favour of the defendants, to say nothing about the defence ones.

On September 30, Zarifa Sautieva complained that the issue of prescribing her treatment after she had been examined by doctors is protracted while she is at the SIZO (pre-trial prison).