Dagestani SC recognizes illegal extension of Eduard Ataev’s arrest

An appeal filed about the extension of arrest of Eduard Ataev, the former coordinator of the Navalny’s headquarters* in Makhachkala, was granted, but Eduard Ataev remains in custody pending review of the decision in the first instance court.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on March 27, Eduard Ataev was suspected of possessing an explosive device, and the court arrested him for two months. Eduard Ataev claims that a grenade was planted on him, and he associates the criminal prosecution with his political position and opposition to corruption schemes.

Eduard Ataev had earlier filed a motion for a pre-trial restriction measure in the form of house arrest, the “Kavkaz.Realii”** reports.

Earlier, Murad Manapov, a former assistant to the Navalny’s headquarters* in Dagestan, said that he had left for Poland, fearing persecution by the law enforcement bodies.

* Navalny’s offices are recognized in Russia as extremist organizations and are included in the list of banned organizations. Alexei Navalny is a founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (known as FBK), an NCO that is included by the Russian Ministry of Justice in the register of NCOs performing functions of a foreign agent.

**The publication has been included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of the foreign media performing the functions of a foreign agent.