Female picketers demand to investigate torture of arrested Derbent residents

During pickets in Makhachkala, mothers of Derbent residents Islam Barzukaev, Gasan Kurbanov, and Mirzaali Mirzaliev, accused in a case on terrorism, disclosed the names of the law enforcers, whom they considered involved in torture, and demanded to institute a criminal case against them.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in June 2019, Islam Barzukaev, Gasan Kurbanov, and Mirzaali Mirzaliev were detained and charged with participation in an illegal armed formation (IAF). On January 27, in Derbent, the mothers of the defendants held pickets to protest against the investigators' refusal to institute a criminal case on torture.

Today, the mothers of the arrested residents of Derbent have held a series of solo pickets in Makhachkala. One of the posters held by Elena Barzukaeva, a mother of Islam Barzukaev, listed the names of the law enforcers who, according to the women's version, were involved in torture of Islam Barzukaev, Gasan Kurbanov, and Mirzaali Mirzaliev. Another poster, unfolded by the protesting women, contained a demand to institute a criminal case against the law enforcers involved in the use of torture.

The women stood for about an hour at the crossroads of Gamzatov Avenue and Dakhadaev Street and then went to the Central Square of Makhachkala, where they also stood for a short time with the posters. Elena Barzukaeva has explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that she wants to ensure Sergey Melikov, the acting leader of Dagestan, is aware about her son's case.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 19, 2021 at 02:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.