11:09, 7 March 2019

Defence of Chechen native appeals against his arrest after brawl in Moscow

The arrest of Imran Malsakov, a native of Chechnya, within the case of a mass brawl in the "Neolit" Cafe in Moscow is not justified, since the formal claimed no damage, the defence has stated. The court will consider the complaint against Malsakov's arrest on March 11.

In total, 29 people were detained within the case. Two natives of Chechnya are suspected of hooliganism: Malsakov was arrested, the second suspect, Isa Yasadov, is under house arrest.

A brawl with shooting at the "Neolit" Café in Moscow occurred on February 14. According to eyewitnesses, from 50 to 100 people took part in it – natives of Chechnya and Azerbaijan. Sources assert that the brawl was provoked by mutual insults in social networks. The incident caused a resonance; it was discussed by the State Duma MP from Chechnya, Adam Delimkhanov, and by Polad Bulbul ogly, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia.

Firuz Akbarov, a figurant of the brawl, who is regarded to be the victim, has stated that he had identified Malsakov under law enforcers' pressure, the advocate has reminded, adding that he treats the house arrest of the second suspect, Isa Yasadov, also as unjustified: the court was provided with video records confirming his alibi.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported that on February 15, the 53-year-old Azerbaijani taxi driver Garib Orudjev was found with gunshot wounds. Sources linked his murder with the brawl in the cafe, believing that Orudjev was also a participant of the conflict in social networks. On suspicion of the murder, Lors Khamiev, a native of Chechnya, was arrested. Earlier, he had served eight years in jail for having prepared an attempt on Ramzan Kadyrov.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 7, 2019 at 00:09 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Oleg Krasnov

Source: CK correspondent