23:04, 11 March 2023

Defence challenges toughened charges against the Ingush doctor Gaitukiev

Bagaudin Gaitukiev. Photo: the "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Defence https://telegra.ph/Advokat-ingushskogo-vracha-podal-zhalobu-na-obvinenie-v-terrorizme-03-10

An advocate, who defends Bagaudin Gaitukiev, a doctor, has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office of Ingushetia against the investigator's decision to add terrorist charges to the case. The investigator's version contradicts the witness' testimony and the defendant's alibi, the advocate has pointed out.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) had charged Gaitukiev with facilitating terrorist activities, organizing and participating in the activities of a terrorist organization, and with illicit arms trafficking. The new charges are based on the testimony of only one person, the "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Defence has informed.

According to investigators, in 2016, Bagaudin Gaitukiev helped two members of the armed underground to purchase medicines. He admitted this, adding that he did not know that these people were connected with militants. The new charges arose after a resident of Ingushetia convicted of terrorism had slandered Gaitukiev by saying that the latter handed him a pistol. However, during the interrogation, this man refused from his testimony; and Gaitukiev has an alibi – at that time he was outside Russia.

Gaitukiev's advocate has filed a complaint against his client being charged with terrorism, the above "Memorial" Centre has reported in its Telegram channel.

Let us remind you that on March 3, 2022, the Ingush branch of the "Civil Initiative" Party announced the detention of Bagaudin Gaitukiev. He was engaged in social activities and openly voiced out his civic position, which "often diverges from that of authorities," the party has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 11, 2023 at 04:22 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot