Convicts for plotting terror declared political prisoners by HRC "Memorial"

The case of plotting of a terror act in the Moscow "Kyrgyzstan" cinema was fabricated. This was stated by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". 15 persons sentenced in the case, including natives of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) and the Southern Federal District (SFD), were recognized by the HRC as political prisoners.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 26 and 27, 2013, in Moscow, 15 people were detained, including natives of Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Kalmykia. According to the police, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), weapons and extremist literature were found in an apartment in Moscow where the detainees lived. The court sentenced the defendants to 11-13 years of imprisonment.

The human rights defenders treat as political prisoners Tazhib Makhmudov, Artur Maslakov, Imran, Arthur and Anzor Tekilov, Tagir Akhtakhanov, Sergey Cheprasov, Matlyuba Nasimova, Islam Ramazanov, Aslan Suleimanov, Khoso Esmurzaev, Adam Shavkhalov, Ersmak Saraliev, Nurmagomed Balakadashev, and Inyal Balakadashev, who were sentenced in the case of plotting of a terror act in the Moscow "Kyrgyzstan" cinema.

The HRC "Memorial" has noted that investigators and the court "did not find out where the arsenal of weapons came from. They also did not reveal who, how, and when made it, delivered to the apartment, and to whom it belonged."

"In fact, no evidence of the preparation of the terror act in the 'Kyrgyzstan' cinema was voiced at the trial," notes the website of the HRC "Memorial".

The human rights defenders have demanded "cancellation of the verdict and impartial reconsideration of the case."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.