Chechen publicist Rizvan Ibragimov sentenced to 2.5 years of conditional imprisonment

In Grozny, the court has found publicist Rizvan Ibragimov guilty of inciting hatred and enmity and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months of conditional imprisonment. Ibragimov has already announced his intention to challenge the court's decision.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in July 2016, the books written by Rizvan Ibragimov were recognized as extremist, and a criminal case was opened against the publicist himself. At the trial, Rizvan Ibragimov said that he was kidnapped by law enforcers in April 2016 and after that he was subjected to torture by electric current. Rizvan Ibragimov called his further meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov an "act of public humiliation."

The verdict to Rizvan Ibragimov was read out at the court hearing held in the evening on June 20.

Judge Khadizhat Nalaeva sentenced the publicist to 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment, but considered it possible to apply Article 73 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, stipulating suspended sentence for 2 years, the "Kavkaz. Realii" reports and also quotes the comments voiced by the sentenced publicist and his advocate about their intention to challenge the verdict at a higher court instance.

According to Rizvan Ibragimov, the judicial system of Chechnya has shown that it is controllable and that it makes decisions with taking into account the position of the executive branch.

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