30 March 2006, 18:17
Militia officers detain a US citizen in Dagestan
On the night of March 29, militia officers from Khasavyurt militia station in Dagestan detained Kelly McEvers, a US citizen employee of John Hopkins University, at the exit from the town of Khasavyurt at one of the road traffic control points. During 8 hours, they checked her documents, although she had all permit documents, including the visa extended till April 16, and confiscated her dictaphone, photo camera and notebook. A video recording was made despite her objections. The detainee was released by 4 a.m. She was met by Khadjimurad Kamalov, director of the publishing house "Freedom of Speech", Ltd.
On their return to Makhachkala on March 30, when entering the town McEvers was detained a second time, together with Kamalov. The company car of the publishing house director was stopped at the road traffic control point, 2 law enforcement offices sat into the car and ordered them to drive to the to Soviet district militia station in Makhachkala, ostensibly for "checking documents." The "checking" lasted till the time of making-up of newspaper (20. 00). A search was conducted in the house where McEvers stayed. Yusup Dzhamalov was permitted to join the detainee. McEvers has been in Dagestan since March 16. She came under a UNEADCO program for getting acquainted with culture and way of life of Dagestan peoples, runs the statement submitted to the "Caucasian Knot" by Akhmednabi Akhmednabiyev, journalist of "Chernovik" newspaper.