14:11, 14 November 2018

Ingush oppositionist Magomed Khazbiev reports circumstances of assassination attempt

Magomed Khazbiev at a court session. Photo by Umar Yovloy for the "Caucasian Knot"

On November 13, the court questioned oppositionist Magomed Khazbiev, accused of insulting Yunus-Bek Evkurov, and decided to proceed to listening to the oral statements of the parties without questioning the leader of Ingushetia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the trial in the Magomed Khazbiev's case began in June. On November 8, the defence of Magomed Khazbiev claimed the judges were interested in the outcome of the case in favour of Yunus-Bek Evkurov.

Magomed Khazbiev was accused of illegal possession of weapons after searches in his house in January 2015. He went to Chechnya, where he lived for several years under state protection. This January, the activist returned to Ingushetia and was arrested. In addition to the charge of illegal possession of weapons, Magomed Khazbiev was accused of insulting Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Evkurov and inciting hatred and hatred towards a social group of people. Magomed Khazbiev claimed the political background of the case against him.

"They repeatedly tried to intimidate me, kill me. During all 12 years of my activities, they have been organizing attempts to assassinate me, and eventually they decided to sentence me to imprisonment," the oppositionist said at trial.

On February 1, 2015, in Grozny, a car of Magomed Khazbiev was shelled from a machine gun.

According to Magomed Khazbiev, a female employee of a law enforcement body tried to persuade him to leave the hospital before an assassination attempt.

The oppositionist has noted that his public speeches contained no extremism, but only calls for peace. "I called on young people not to resort to violence, not to leave for Syria," he said.

The charge of insulting the leader of Ingushetia is connected with an interview with Magomed Khazbiev published on YouTube in 2015. In the video, Magomed Khazbiev distorted the Yunus-Bek Evkurov's name by inserting words from prison jargon, terms hinting at inferiority of mind and animal designations, and he also called the leader of the republic "an enemy of the people and God."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 14, 2018 at 10:21 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Umar Yovloy

Source: CK correspondent