Akhmed Pogorov's arrest triggers criticism of the court

The return of Akhmed Pogorov, a co-chairman of the World Congress of the Ingush People, back into custody testifies to possible pressure on the court in Essentuki, since this decision contradicts the position of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), which released Pogorov a few days ago, Magomed Pogorov, Akhmed's brother, Zakriy Mamilov, an MP, and Issa Kostoev, a lawyer, have suggested.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in late May, Akhmed Pogorov was transferred under house arrest and was soon hospitalized, but the police took him out of the hospital and brought him to Yessentuki in a reanimation car. The law enforcers explained their actions by the need for investigative actions.

Before releasing Akhmed Pogorov from SIZO (pre-trial prison), the KBR's SC for three days considered the appeal complaint against the decision of the Nalchik City Court to extend the detention of Akhmed Pogorov, a former head of the Ingush Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), his elder brother Magomed said. "The defence has presented sufficiently convincing evidence that there was no need to keep Akhmed in custody," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Akhmed Pogorov is unreasonably kept under investigation, says Zakriy Mamilov, a deputy (MP) of the People's Assembly of Ingushetia. "Everything that he had investigated by revealing corruption in construction and in the social sphere – criminal cases are now being opened on all these cases. But for some reason he is kept in custody and charged with some unknown crimes," Mr Mamilov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He compared the Pogorov's case with that of Zarifa Sautieva. "He, like Zarifa, was transferred to house arrest; and an hour later he was taken from hospital to the investigator. We'll discuss this issue in parliament," the MP has added.

According to Issa Kostoev, an Honoured Lawyer of Russia and an adviser to the head of Ingushetia, he learned that Akhmed Pogorov was returned to custody one day after the court changed his freedom restraint measure to house arrest. "I have worked in the law enforcement system for about 40 years; and I've never seen anything like this in the judicial or investigative practice. I've never come across the cases like those that happened with Zarifa Sautieva and now with Akhmed Pogorov," Mr Kostoev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He treats the case against Pogorov as biased. "They are 'twisting the judge's arms', and he, by making the imposed decision, goes against his will. In this case, this judge must resign and leave this case," Issa Kostoev has concluded.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 28, 2021 at 08:17 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.