Ragimov's relatives treat his trial as "judicial performance"

On December 5, the Tushino District Court of Moscow held a session of Murad Ragimov, a native of Dagestan, accused of illegal drug storage. The court ruled to extend Ragimov's arrest by three months, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported from the courtroom.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 30, 2016, law enforcers detained Murad Ragimov in Moscow on suspicion of involvement in militant groupings in Syria, as well as in an attack on policemen in Dagestan. After the law enforcers found out that Murad Ragimov could not leave Russia, they searched his apartment for a long time and, with their witnesses, claimed the discovery of drugs, said relatives of the young man. Since September 2016, Murad Ragimov is kept in custody on the charge of illegal possession of drugs.

At the beginning of the session, Mikhail Karplyuk, an advocate, lodged several motions, but all of them were rejected. Thus, the female judge refused to attach Ragimov's photos, showing that he was beaten up after the detention, to the case files.

Mr Karplyuk also petitioned about the delivery of cans with drugs to the court for examination, but the judge noted that this is impossible, since "the content can be spilled."

The session caused outrage of Murad Ragimov's relatives. The refusal of the court to add the photos of beaten up Murad Ragimov to the case files indicates the court's bias and its accusatory character, said Gyunay Ragimova, Murad's sister.

Her indignation was also caused by the judge's refusal to examine the cans with drugs, which Murad Ragimov had allegedly stored.

"Obviously, the ruling to extend his custody shows that the verdict will be accusatory. The trial resembles a play, performed by the prosecutor and the judge," Gyunay Ragimova said.

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