Usmanov charged with involvement in IS accuses law enforcers of cruel torture

In Rostov-on-Don, at the trial in the case against Abdurakhman Usmanov charged with aiding and abetting militants in Syria, the native of Dagestan has claimed that after his detention he was subjected to torture with water and electric current. He signed a number of protocols included in the case after he could not stand the pain. This was reported by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from the courtroom.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the case against Abdurakhman Usmanov, a resident of Dagestan, is being considered by the North-Caucasian District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. According to investigators, in the summer of 2014, the defendant left for Syria and entered the terrorist training centre of the "Islamic State" (IS) (banned in Russia by court's decision, – note of the "Caucasian Knot").

Abdurakhman Usmanov completely denies the charge filed against him and claims that he has never been to Syria. The defendant claims that in the period of time, when, according to investigators, he joined the ranks of militants, he lived and worked in Turkey. The case materials contain a confession given by the defendant. However, at the trial, he claimed that he gave the confession under torture.

At the court hearing held on March 6, Abdurakhman Usmanov noted that during the torture, law enforcers demanded from him to confess that he was in Syria, was involved in the conflict, and transported people there. Meanwhile, Abdurakhman Usmanov was offered an alternative to pay 30,000 US dollars to law enforcers "for solving the problem."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.