POC counts 126 people arrested after Makhachkala riots

Overall 126 persons are being held under arrest within the criminal case of mass riots at the Makhachkala Airport, Shamil Khadulaev has reported after the visit of the Dagestani Public Oversight Commission (POC) to the SIZO (pre-trial prison). Seven of those arrested refuse to agree with the charges.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a criminal case is being investigated in connection with the unrests in Makhachkala; by November 22, at least 44 people had been arrested and appealed against their arrest at the Supreme Court (SC) of Dagestan. After considering 40 such appeals, the SC has upheld the arrests.

The Dagestani POC has visited the SIZO because of citizens' numerous appeals regarding the events at the Makhachkala Airport on October 29, Shamil Khadulaev, a POC deputy chairman, has stated. "In total, 126 people are kept there under this case, of which we talked with seven suspects. All of them disagree with the charge of taking part in mass riots," he said, noting that the detainees claim that they had not been among rioters, but were just onlookers.