Yaganov: detentions of Circassian activists have to do with Sochi Olympics

The December 13 detentions of activists and leaders of Circassian public organizations are associated with the forthcoming Olympic Games in Sochi, said Ibragim Yaganov, the chairman of the Public Movement "Khase".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 13, about 10 Circassian and one Abazin activists from Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea were forcibly brought to Krasnodar on the instruction of the territorial department of the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF). The agents of the local Centre for Combating Extremism (CCE) searched their houses. Most of the activists were released, but will have to appear for questioning on December 16.

"I believe that detentions of Circassian public figures have to do with the upcoming Olympics in Sochi. The work is underway to ensure safety; and our bodies could invent nothing cleverer," Ibragim Yaganov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Yaganov, during the searches power agents showed a statement to all the detainees that the actions were held in connection with "tracing of a certain Wahhabi named Chernyshov."

"Law enforcers believe that we could hide him and that he could live with all the ten detainees at the same time – just an absurdity," said Yaganov.

In the context of the above detentions, Valery Khatazhukov, the Chairman of the Kabardino-Balkarian Public Human Rights Centre has addressed the Russia's Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika, asking him to take action and make an effort to objective investigate the circumstances of the incident.