08:38, 20 September 2022

ICRF ignores Askhabov's statement about torture at rehab

The Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) has violated the deadline established by the law for responding to Magomed Askhabov's application about torture at the rehabilitation centre (rehab) in Khasavyurt, where he was forcibly held and "treated" for homosexuality, human rights defenders have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the ICRF had forwarded the application of Magomed Askhabov about his forced detention and torture at the Khasavyurt rehab to its Dagestani branch, human rights defenders reported on August 19.

The Dagestani Magomed Askhabov, who fled from his relatives, who had sent him for "treatment" for homosexuality to the rehab for drug addicts, has stated that he had left Russia. He told that at the rehab they used physical and psychological torture for the people kept there. On July 18, Askhabov submitted his applications against the rehab to the ICRF and the Russian General Prosecutor's Office (GPO).

However, for the elapsed 63 days, he has not received any official response from the above bodies about the consideration of his applications, the NC SOS* Crisis Group, which helps LGBTQ+ people, has stated in its press release. By the law, the ICRF must consider an application within 30 days.

The NC SOS* intends to "continue dealing with Magomed's case and seek for a check of the rehabilitation centre (rehab)," human rights defenders have promised.

*The NC (Northern Caucasus) SOS is a new project of the former emergency help team of the Russian LGBT Network, operated by the "Sphere" Fund, which was included by the Russian Ministry of Justice into the register of non-commercial organizations (NCOs) acting as foreign agents.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 19, 2022 at 09:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: The Caucasian Knot