"Russian LGBT Network" reports threats to father of detained Chechen natives

A father of two moderators of a Chechen Telegram channel complained about pressure from the law enforcement bodies, the "Russian LGBT Network" reports. The human rights defenders believe that the father of the detained brothers gave up the advocate's help because of the threats he got.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that law enforcers brought 20-year-old Salekh Magamadov and his minor brother from Nizhny Novgorod to Chechnya. On February 6, the young men were questioned in two criminal cases as witnesses. Then, the police detained them again.

Akhmed Dudaev, Chechen Minister of Information and Press, claims that the young people are suspected of aiding and abetting a militant from a grouping led by Aslan Byutukaev. The Chechen law enforcement bodies suspect a gay and a transgender person who mocked religion of aiding and abetting militants, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reports.

According to David Isteev, a coordinator of the "Russian LGBT Network", the father of the detainees reported about the threats he got from a top-ranking law enforcer. "They said that if he did not give up all his advocates, then the detainees would be dishonoured on Chechen TV Channels … The father himself is in mortal danger in Chechnya," David Isteev said.

According to Oleg Orlov, a member of the Council of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"*, both young men brought from Nizhny Novgorod were among the "Chechen bloggers" detained in April 2020. Then a video was posted on social media sites with the apologies voiced by residents of Chechnya for participating in the "Osal nakh 95" (Empty People) group. The police found at least 10 people who posted in the "Osal nakh 95" group and other messenger groups some offensive posts, comments, and photos of other people, a source from the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported.

By forcing the father of the detainees to give up his advocate, the Chechen law enforcement bodies gain complete freedom of action, emphasizes Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civic Assistance" Committee. She notes that other relatives of the detained young men may also be in danger.

* the HRC "Memorial" is recognized in the Russian Federation as a foreign agent.