Relatives of IVS inmates hold picket in Ingushetia

In Nazran, in the yard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Ingushetia, a picket was held by the relatives of the defendants, figuring in the case about attack on Ingushetia in 2004 and kept at the pre-trial prison (the so-called "IVS") of the MIA of Ingushetia; the picketers demanded that the date of consideration of the case be appointed.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported that at night on June 22, 2004, a group of militants under command of Shamil Basaev committed an armed attack on the objects of law enforcement bodies of Ingushetia. In the court of street fights on that night 79 persons were killed, of them 40 were law enforcers, the remaining ones were civilians. More than 100 persons were wounded.

Now, the IVS in Nazran keeps 10 residents of Ingushetia and two of Chechnya, who are under inquiry on the case about the 2004 events. Over 30 their relatives have rallied today at about 10:30 a.m. for a picket, trying to force the judiciary to appoint the date of the trial, as the "News of Ingushetia" writes.

The action was attended by journalists and public figure Magomed Khazbiev.

Mr Khazbiev met Ruslan Meiriev, head of the Republic's MIA who promised to keep the detainees for three more days in Nazran.

"I met the defendants and talked to them. They all ask for one thing only: consider our case as soon as possible," said Magomed Khazbiev.

The oppositional Internet portal "Ingushetia.Org" reports that the young guys are kept in custody for five years already, and periodically tortured in Vladikavkaz and Nalchik.

One of the detainees - Esmurzaev - failed to bear torture and tried to commit suicide by ripping up his belly; now he is in a grave condition. In the meantime, the Supreme Court of Ingushetia wants to postpone the trial again, which means another convoying of the detainees to the Nalchik IVS, where they want to take Esmurzaev too.