Dagestani's advocate claims identification falsification in robbery case

The defence of Nurmagomed Labaev, a native of Dagestan, has appealed against the extension of his arrest in the robbery case, claiming numerous violations in the case. According to the advocate, the victim described the criminal as having a Slavic appearance, while Labaev has a characteristic Caucasian one.

According to investigators, on March 27, 2022, Labaev robbed a store, threatening the saleswoman with a knife.

"My client has become a victim of circumstances ... He is accused of robbery, but there is nothing in the case except for identification protocols – he was recognized by the saleswoman and a witness, a taxi driver. But the same victim had initially indicated that she was robbed by a man of Slavic appearance. And Labaev is a native of Dagestan with a very typical appearance and black hair," Magomed Abubakarov, the advocate, has stated.

He has added that there is no evidence in the case, except for the testimonies of two people; however, Nurmagomed Labaev, the father of many children, has been kept behind bars on this basis for more than a year.

According to the advocate, the court and the prosecutor's office "are covering all these policemen's actions, and try to justify such a long Labaev's custody; therefore, they are trying to pass a guilty verdict by hook or by crook."

Elena Sanashokova, Labaev's mother-in-law, has stated that the son-in-law's confession was knocked out by force. She has noted that Nurmagomed's family is in a difficult situation financially and psychologically.

"It is absurd and cruel to keep a person who the family needs so much for so many months," she has concluded.