Marina Tumgoeva achieves permit to visit her brother in colony

Marina Tumgoeva, a resident of North Ossetia, has met the head of the Department of the Russian FSIN (Federal Penitentiary Service) for the Saratov Region and received permit to visit her convicted brother, who complains about custody conditions at his colony and pressure over his beard.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 21, in Saratov, Marina, Timur Tumgoev's sister, went to a solo picket demanding from the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) and the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) to take measures in defence of her brother, who complained about custody conditions at the colony.

After the picket held near the building of the Saratov Regional Prosecutor's Office, at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time, Marina Tumgoeva, accompanied by the human rights defender, Pyatimat Yusupova, was received by the head of the FSIN for the Saratov Region, Colonel of the Internal Service. Alexei Fedotov.

Marina told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that during her conversation with Mr Fedotov, she told him about her brother's complaints about the colony conditions and that Muslims were unable to wear beards and pray there. In her opinion, the harsh custody conditions had triggered inmates' protests in this colony in May-June 2021.

According to Pyatimat Yusupova, who cooperates with the funds engaged in defending human rights and prisoners' rights, the women saw understanding from Alexei Fedotov. "I insisted that we should see Timur with our own eyes. He called the colony, talked to the acting head thereof and promised us that a meeting with Timur would take place," Ms Yusupova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 21, 2021 at 10:01 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.