Relatives of Chechen blogger Khalitov refute information about kidnapping of his sister

A sister of Khasan Khalitov was not kidnapped in Chechnya and was not photographed in the nude, said blogger’s relatives. They urged him to stop criticizing the authorities of Chechnya.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that blogger Khasan Khalitov, who lives in Turkey, got a photo of his naked sister who was kidnapped together with her husband in December. Khasan Khalitov reported that at least two of his relatives – his sister with her husband – were being held by Chechen law enforcers.

On December 22, Minkail Malizaev, another blogger and critic of Ramzan Kadyrov, reported about the kidnapping of his relatives in Chechnya. “They sent me several photos of my naked female relatives. Nobody knows where they are,” Minkail Malizaev said.

Let us remind you that on December 24, Khasan Khalitov reported about the kidnapping of at least five of his relatives, including his father and brothers. Chechen Minister of Press and Information Akhmed Dudaev posted a video in which Khasan Khalitov’s relatives assured Internet users that they were not kidnapped.

On November 30, a video message from Gani Khalitov, a father of Khasan Khalitov, was posted on the Internet. The man accused his son of slandering the authorities of the republic and stated that he wanted to kill his son.

On December 3, in video messages, brothers of Khasan Khalitov urged him to stop criticizing the Chechen authorities. Human rights defenders note that the videos were made under pressure and that the Chechen authorities use families to intimidate their critics.