09 February 2018, 23:59
EP's resolution on Titiev's case inspires rights defenders
The European Parliament (EP) treats falsifications in the case of Oyub Titiev as obvious, and his prosecution – as another link in the chain of human rights violations committed in Chechnya and throughout Russia, rights defenders Oleg Orlov and Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya have stressed. They hope that the authorities will react to the EP's resolution on the case of Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Oyub Titiev was arrested on January 11 on charges of possessing marijuana; however, Titiev stated that the drug had been planted on him by a law enforcer.
On February 8, the EP called on the Russian authorities to release Titiev and stop suppressing the freedom of self-expression in Chechnya.
Having signed the international treaties on respect of human rights and being a member of the Council of Europe, Russia is obliged to investigate the crimes of Chechen authorities, says the EP's resolution dated February 8.
The EP has also pointed to the accusations brought by Chechen authorities against rights defenders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
On December 25, 2017, Magomed Daudov, Speaker of the Chechen Parliament, called all rights defenders the enemies deserving the death penalty, the HRC "Memorial" has noted.
In several countries, in many cases, EP's resolutions on human rights situation had a real impact, said Oleg Orlov, the head of the board of the HRC "Memorial".
"It is also important that the resolution calls on the countries of the European Union to help refugees from Chechnya, especially journalists and rights defenders," Ms Sokiryanskaya has added.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Source: CK correspondent
