A Nalchik resident who fell victim to torture complains of health problems

Rustam Kuchmenov, a resident of Nalchik, who complained of torture from law enforcers, needs an expensive surgery on his damaged spine, but cannot go for medical treatment because of recognizance not to leave. Rustam Kuchmenov was not afraid to point to the law enforcers who were torturing him and therefore he needs state protection, the Committee Against Torture has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a resident of Nalchik filed a complaint to rights defenders against law enforcers who tortured him after his detention in 2017. None of the five law enforcers whom the man had identified was dismissed, the Committee against Torture reported on February 26.

Along with Rustam Kuchmenov, who complained of torture, other four persons, including his cousin, are involved in the case as defendants. They are charged with theft of construction tools.

According to Rustam Kuchmenov, he bought some of the stolen tools from his brother without knowing that they had been stolen.

On June 2, 2017, a man was taken for questioning to the police and began to beat out a confession to the theft. According to Rustam Kuchmenov, he was beaten, tortured with electric current and with an awl stuck to his leg.

According to advocate Marat Osrokov, the cousin under pressure incriminated Rustam and called him an accomplice of the theft.

Magomed Alamov, an activist from the Committee against Torture, has noted that Rustam Kuchmenov needs costly medical treatment, since the construction replacing his cervical vertebrae was broken during the beating.

Albert Kuznetsov, an activist from the Committee against Torture, described Rustam Kuchmenov's case as unique in the NGO's practice. According to Albert Kuznetsov, Rustam Kuchmenov became the first resident of Kabardino-Balkaria, who appealed to the Committee against Torture.