Analysts pointed to risks of severe sentence to Vadim Cheldiev

Vadim Cheldiev, an Ossetian opera singer, who is accused of organizing riots in Vladikavkaz, may be harshly sentenced by the court. In this way, authorities hope to prevent a rise of protest sentiments amid roughening restrictions on coronavirus, the analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 20, 2020, law enforcers dispersed opponents of the self-isolation regime, who demanded the resignation of the government, parliament and the head of North Ossetia, from the Freedom Square in Vladikavkaz. According to investigators, at the spontaneous rally, 13 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the "Rosgvardiya" (Russian National Guard) were wounded. Vadim Cheldiev, whom investigators treat as the initiator of the rally, was charged under four articles of the Russian Criminal Code; he has been put on the list of extremists compiled by the "Rosfinmonitoring" (Russian Federal Financial Monitoring Service).

Vadim Cheldiev my expect a very severe sentence, given the earlier passed verdicts to other participants of the rally on April 20, 2019, as well as the fact that Cheldiev is on the list of extremists compiled by the "Rosfinmonitoring", Alan Tskhurbaev , the editor-in-chief of the "Daryal" magazine, has noted. "There is fear that this will be done to intimidate others. The coronavirus situation in the country is not improving; and in fear of new protests, authorities may make use of a severe sentence to deter others from such actions," Mr Tskhurbaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 30, 2021 at 09:38 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.