15:02, 23 May 2018

FIFA concerned over Oyub Titiev's case

Solo picket in support of Oyub Titiev, Moscow, May 21, 2018. Photo by Rustam Djalilov for the Caucasian Knot.

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura has expressed her concern over the case against Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". She has stated the need for a fair trial.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Oyub Titiev, head of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", has been under arrest on charges of possessing marijuana since January 11. He insists that the drug had been planted on him by a law enforcer.

In the period from June 14 to July 15, Russia will host the FIFA World Cup. In Grozny, where Oyub Titiev is being kept in custody, the Egyptian national team will prepare for the championship. A number of human rights organizations appealed to the FIFA to influence the Russian authorities to release Oyub Titiev before the FIFA World Cup.

The letter was answered by FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reports today.

"It is FIFA's view that, as a matter of principle, human rights defenders should be able to perform their work freely and without fear of reprisals," states the FIFA in its letter as quoted by the "Novaya Gazeta". The newspaper notes it has got a copy of the FIFA's letter.

In the letter, Fatma Samoura has also emphasized that "Oyub Titiev has the right to a fair trial," the human rights organization "Amnesty International" (AI) reports today.

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