Investigation of the incident involving detention of an American citizen in Dagestan continues

Investigation of the incident in Dagestan, involving the detention of Kelly McEvers, an American citizen and employee of John Hopkins University, continues. For reference, on the night of March 29, militia officers from Khasavyurt militia station detained her at the exit from the town of Khasavyurt at one of the road traffic control points. The American visited Khasavyurt under a UNEADCO program, upon an invitation of the public organization "Foundation of Humanitarian Initiatives", for taking part in training on tolerance among school-children and youth. Prior to that, she visited Derbent, Selakh Gunib and Ghimry.

During 8 hours, they checked her documents, although she had all permit documents, including the visa extended till April 16, and confiscated her dictaphone, photo camera and notebook.

Khadjimurad Kamalov, director of the "Freedom of Speech", Ltd and founder of the "Chernovik" weekly went to the scene. At the entrance to Makhachkala, the Kamalov's company car was stopped at the road traffic control point. Law enforcement officers invited Kamalov and Evers to come to Soviet district militia station in Makhachkala, ostensibly for checking documents.

"There is no doubt that the detention of my car with a US citizen inside was planned in advance, related Kamalov to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent."I clearly saw that the plate number of my company car was written by ball-pen on the hand of one of the road militia officers."

Kamalov showed his State Duma deputy assistant's ID and explained the militia officers that passengers are not obliged to show their passports for checking or even to carry them. "I asked the militia officers if there were signs of any illegal activity in our actions and on what grounds we had to drive to the district militia for checking. No. state of emergency had been introduced and there were no reasons for militia officers to request any documents or conduct a personal search," said Khadjimurad Kamalov.

Surprisingly, the militia officers wanted the US citizen to show a license and accreditation although, in accordance with the Federal Law "On Legal Status of Foreign Citizens on the Territory of Russia," no documents, apart from a valid visa, were required.

Upon the request of Kamalov, Yusup Dzhakhbarov, chair of the inter-republican Bar Association, Suleiman Uladiev, deputy of Dagestan's People's Assembly, and representatives of mass media urgently came to the Soviet district militia station where the detainees were brought. The presence of such a number of public representatives confused the militia officers and they tried to behave within the law, at least in the presence of people.

Simultaneously, a search was conducted in the house where Kelly McEvers stayed. They confiscated her notebook and some documents. Having a mobile, the American could very well phone and ask the notebook and the documents to be hidden. But she did not use the opportunity as she knew she had nothing to hide. Around 23. 00, upon the request of the lawyer (according to the law, after 22. 00 the law enforcement agencies have no right to conduct investigative actions) Kelly McEvers was released on the condition that she should turn up on the following day "to give evidence."

On March 31, Kelly McEvers was summoned to the Directorate on Combating Organized Crime (UBOP) as a witness. "The fact that UBOP deals with some kind of obscure investigation, rather that combating organized crime, is beyond me. I can not understand the witness of what can be a US citizen, so that they can interrogate her. Such actions by the MIA inflict great damage to the Russian state and the authority of Dagestan and Russia in the eyes of the world community. What about simple citizens of Dagestan, who, not having the support of public resonance, are subjected to pressure and forced confessions by the law enforcement agencies?" relates Kamalov.

At the moment, Kelly McEvers and her lawyer are in the UBOP building of the Dagestan capital. In the opinion of Kamalov, she is most likely to be released, as there is no legal pretext for her detention and because the fact has attracted close attention of public and mass media.