Lev Ponomaryov: problems with justice in Astrakhan Region need Medvedev's attention

The situation in the Investigatory Department of the ICPO in the Astrakhan Region needs attention of President Dmitri Medvedev, believes Lev Ponomaryov, executive director of the All-Russian Public Movement (ARPM) "For Human Rights", who was present at the press conference "Astrakhan Kingdom of Lawlessness ", held on December 7 in Moscow. Astrakhan authorities refrain from comments on the presented facts.

Mr Ponomaryov has especially highlighted the story of Magomed Isakov, who figured as a defendant in the case of the terrorist attack in Astrakhan on August 19, 2001. According to the rights activist, it was a unique case, when the courts several times acquitted Isakov, and several times the case was sent to additional consideration.

As explained by advocate Nodar Duishvili, who represented Isakov's interests in another criminal case, initiated against him this summer, on August 10 this year Isakov died in Astrakhan SIZO (pre-trial prison) No. 1. "I said at the trial that Isakov was ill and presented evidences, but despite all this, the court ruled to arrest him; and 4 days later he died in jail. The system killed him," the advocate said at the press conference. According to Duishvili, a lawyer of the Moscow Bar, who has been working for 8 years in the Astrakhan Region, the region sees a "merge of the law enforcement and judicial systems."

The press conference was also attended by the lawyer and mother of Rinat Salekhov, former head of the Astrakhan UBOP (Department to Fight Organized Crime), sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of committing grave crimes. They also pointed out that the sentence to Salekhov, in their view, was illegitimate, while Salekhov was beaten during the investigation.

The Astrakhan journalist Oleg Teplischev concentrated the attention of the audience, at the beginning of the press conference, that in central Astrakhan, according to his knowledge, land plots are seized by raiders, which is accompanied by arsons and persecutions. The journalist believes that these cases are backed by officials working in the city administration and Regional Duma.

According to Mr Teplischev's observations, a common practice in Astrakhan is when victims themselves become suspects and later convicts. Besides, the journalist said that the pressure exerted on him in connection with his professional activities has also affected his personal interests. In particular, the journalist said, they tried to move him out of his apartment, which is his property. "When I refused, I was escorted to the SIZO, where I spent a year on charges of tax evasion in especially large volume, to which I had no relation," said Teplischev.

The press service of the Administration of Astrakhan could not provide the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent with any comments on these facts.