Dagestan: rights defenders appreciate court ruling on Rabadanov's case

Dagestani authorities have failed to prove the inspired nature of anti-mobilization protests; and trials of participants thereof demonstrate a relative independence of local courts, which is atypical for other Russian regions. This was stated by human rights defenders in their comments on the court ruling in Makhachkala in Gadji Rabadanov's case.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the court decided to consider Gadji Rabadanov's case behind closed doors. Law enforcers were unable to prove his guilt in violating the rules for holding an unsanctioned rally in Makhachkala, the court has ruled. Gadji himself has stated that he had taken no part in street protests.

Svetlana Gannushkina*, the head of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*, has noted that in this case the Dagestani judiciary acted quite independently. At the same time, according to her story, the Rabadanov' case is not the only one in Dagestan when it was possible to achieve a due legal consideration of the case."

"Dagestan has a fairly active civil society. And although activists were even killed there, in general, people, even under a colossal confrontation, can achieve their rights and influence the authorities," Ms Gannushkina believes.

Oleg Orlov, a co-chairman of the "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Defence, has treated Rabadanov's case as typical of Dagestan.

"This is not for the first time that they treat protesters rather softly in Dagestan. And in general, the behaviour of the courts there is often radically different from that of Moscow courts," Mr Orlov has concluded.