Murad Amriev says his rights are observed in Chechnya

Today, at a press conference, athlete Murad Amriev, released from the police in Grozny this night, has told journalists about the circumstances of his transfer from Belarus to Russia and further transfer to Chechnya.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Murad Amriev, the world champion in MMA, was detained in Belarus and handed over to FSB agents. On June 9, a source from the law enforcement agencies informed the "Caucasian Knot" that Murad Amriev was placed to a temporary detention facility of the Staropromyslovsky ROVD (District Interior Division) in Grozny. In the evening of June 9, Igor Kalyapin, the leader of the "Committee for the Prevention of Torture", announced the release of the athlete.

According to Murad Amriev, the Belarusian side violated his rights: he was not allowed to meet an advocate and was not allowed to write a request for asylum. The athlete did not explain in detail why he was not ready to come to Chechnya and wanted to seek asylum in Belarus. He has just noted that "up to present, not all the circumstances of the case have been clarified."

"I did not know what would happen to me if I was brought to Chechnya. In Bryansk, my rights were explained to me at least in half, while in Belarus I was isolated from everything to which I had the right," Murad Amriev said.

According to the athlete, in Chechnya, he was provided security guarantees for himself and his relatives.

"From the moment of my transfer to the present moment, no one touched me even with a finger. No one did ever insult me or threaten me," Murad Amriev said while responding to a question about whether Chechen law enforcers had taken any illegal actions against him.

Murad Amriev has also added that he was "surprised by the observance of his rights in the region and the activity of human rights defenders." He has expressed his gratitude to all people who expressed concern about his fate.

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