Congress of Peoples of Caucasus calls on President Putin to stand up for Ingush activists

In its appeal to the Russian President, the Russian Congress of the Peoples of the Caucasus states that the Ingush activists, the verdict to whom will be pronounced on December 15, have only expressed their civic position, which does not give reason to classify them as extremists.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in March 2019, a rally was held in Magas against the agreement on the border with Chechnya. The police tried to disperse the protestors, and some clashes occurred. Forty activists have been convicted, and eight other protest leaders are on trial.

At a meeting with the Russian President, film director Alexander Sokurov, a member of the Human Rights Council (HRC), called the situation in Northern Caucasus the most problematic in Russia. He mentioned the protests in Ingushetia against the border agreement with Chechnya concluded in 2018. The film director called for the release of the arrested protest leaders.

“In Northern Caucasus, people have a reverent attitude towards elders, women, and children. Therefore, it is especially painful for us to see in custody respected Ingush elders Akhmed Barakhoev and Malsag Uzhakhov and young woman Zarifa Sautieva,” states the appeal of the Russian Congress of the Peoples of the Caucasus, as quoted on Facebook by Aliy Totorkulov, the chairman of the organization.

The Russian Congress of the Peoples of the Caucasus requested the Russian President to release the Ingush activists “for the sake of strengthening peace and stability in Northern Caucasus.”