Relatives of Ingushetian inmates hope for meeting with Evkurov

Today at the picket in the city of Magas, relatives of the 12 inmates kept at the local IVS (pre-trial custody) have reported that they cherish hope for the meeting with President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov. The meeting should take place tomorrow, on March 11, in the President's Administration. The relatives demand to stop protracting the litigation.

They fear that another convoying the defendants to the neighbouring district will protract the inquiry still more, as the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The picketers have noted that they do not object to lawful transfer of the defendants to Nalchik or Pyatigorsk, since Ingushetia lacks facilities for long-term pre-trial custody. But, in their opinion, the convoying should be made only after the date of the trial has been appointed.

The relatives assert that the defendants are exhausted by the inquiry that lasts for about four years already; there is not a single healthy person among them. "When they were detained, they were young guys with enviable health, now, after torture and poor custody conditions, their health is damaged," mother of one of the defendants said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Earlier, it was reported that the inmates complained of torture. Allegedly, one of them - Esmurziev - ripped up his belly in a suicide attempt and is now in a grave condition. However, relatives said today that Esmurziev "did not rip up his belly; it was done three years ago by power agents of North Ossetia."