Court refuses to return Ingush activists' case to first instance

At the court session that considered the complaint against the verdict in the so-called "Ingush case", the defendants-activists asked to send their case to the first-instance court because of the violations, but the court has dismissed the petition.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 22, due to the fact that the court session on the case of Ingush activists was scheduled for Monday, although the court initially had decided to hold sessions on Fridays, many advocates could not appear in court. Because of their failure to appear, the court provided the activists with advocates by appointment.

Today, the Stavropol Territorial Court continued considering the appeal against the verdict passed to Ingush activists. In the courtroom there are both advocates by agreement and those appointed by the court, the "Memorial" Centre for Defence of Human Rights has informed.

Let us remind you that seven Ingush protest leaders are accused of creating an extremist community. On December 15, 2021, the court sentenced Akhmed Barakhoev, Musa Malsagov and Malsag Uzhakhov to nine years in prison each; Ismail Nalgiev, Bagaudin Khautiev and Barakh Chemurziev – to eight years each; and Zarifa Sautieva – to 7.5 years in prison. At the rally in Magas, the defendants, on the contrary, urged the participants of the action to refrain from riots, the defence and the defendants themselves assert.

At the court session that considered the complaint against the verdict in the so-called "Ingush case", the defendants-activists asked to send their case to the first-instance court because of the violations, but the court has dismissed the petition.