Lawyers treat criminal case against Ingush policemen as biased

The Ingush policemen accused of disobeying the order to disperse protesters in Magas in March 2019, did their job professionally, but they face punishment for doing so, Magomed Mutsolgov, a human rights defender, has noted. Thanks to their actions, bloodshed was avoided, Magomed Kuriev, an advocate, believes. The policemen acted strictly according to the law, Tatiana Okushko, another advocate, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a court in Zheleznovodsk is considering the case of 12 policemen accused of disobeying the order to disperse protesters in Magas in 2019.

Visit Tsoroev, an advocate, has pointed out that thanks to the actions of his clients, which the prosecution treats as criminal, they managed to convince protesters to stop their protest.

"Their mission was fulfilled: there was no bloodshed. And it could not have been avoided if an assault had begun with the participation of armoured vehicles," Magomed Mutsolgov has added.

Let us remind you that on March 26, 2019, residents of Ingushetia, who were protesting against the border agreement with Chechnya, extended their protest action in Magas, which led to clashes with law enforcers.

Seven protest leaders were accused of creating an extremist community. On December 15, 2021, the court sentenced them to long colony terms: Akhmed Barakhoev, Musa Malsagov and Malsag Uzhakhov were sentenced to 9 years each; Ismail Nalgiev, Bagaudin Khautiev and Barakh Chemurziev – to 8 years each; and Zarifa Sautieva – to 7.5 years in colony.