Dagestani activist Rabadanov’s office closed as price for release, his colleagues believe

The closure of a studio run by Dagestani activist Ramazan Rabadanov has become one of the conditions for his transfer to house arrest, and failure to comply threatened to return him to a SIZO (pre-trial prison).

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on November 6, 2024, in Makhachkala, the police detained Ramazan Rabadanov, who spoke out in defence of those accused in the case on riots at the airport. Ramazan Rabadanov claimed that a grenade was planted to a pocket of his jacket. The activist was arrested for two months. On January 3, a court changed the pre-trial restriction measure to house arrest.

Shamil Khadulaev, the chairman of the Public Oversight Commission (POC) of Dagestan, reported on his Telegram channel that an office of Ramazan Rabadanov, from where the activist conducted his broadcasts, was closed.

The closure of the Ramazan Rabadanov’s office was the price and condition for his release, journalist Milrad Fatullaev believes.

“The law enforcement bodies ... wanted to demonstrate that no one is allowed to joke around with the state,” he emphasized.

The Dagestani journalist also believes that Ramazan Rabadanov was released from custody as a result of his agreement not to engage in public activities.

“It was a deal ... He is, after all, an elderly man suffering from health problems. Prison could have had very serious consequences for him,” Milrad Fatullaev stated.

At present, Ramazan Rabadanov stays under house arrest, and any step he takes could become grounds for changing the pre-trial restriction measure for him, the journalist notes.