Gyulnara Rustamova: Dagestan advocates would not defend interests of kidnapped persons

Gyulnara Rustamova, chair of the committee "Dagestan Mothers for Human Rights" has told today to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that her organization has faced new problems caused by the refusal of local advocates to render legal aid to arrested citizens.

As an example, Ms Rustamova told a story of German Khidirov, a resident of Kaspijsk.

On March 15, when the parents came to militia to have a meeting with their son, they were not admitted to the arrested person. Militiamen told them that German Khidirov has an appointed advocate, to whom their son gave his confessions. Their request to show them the advocate was rejected.

German Khidirov's relatives tried to find an advocate themselves, but so far they have failed, since many defenders, having learnt about the circumstances of German Khidirov's detention, refused to take the case.

Advocate Aziz Kurbanov, who has nevertheless agreed to represent German Khidirov's interests, said in his talk with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the behaviour of his colleagues was caused by two reasons. Firstly, certain lawyers in Dagestan think that the kidnapped persons are indeed involved in illegal armed formations. Secondly, according to Kurbanov, a successful advocate in this sort of cases is perceived by Dagestan authorities and power agencies "almost as a militants' aide."