Court halves compensation to resident of Chechnya for his illegal criminal prosecution

The Supreme Court (SC) of Chechnya has halved Salakh Vakhaev's compensation for several years of illegal criminal prosecution – from 300,000 roubles down to 150,000 roubles.

The criminal case on charges of hooliganism and violence against ten people, including Vakhaev, was initiated in 2006. In 2007, the Shali City Court returned the case to the prosecutor's office to eliminate violations; and a year later, the criminal case against Salakh Vakhaev was stopped, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* project has informed.

He filed a lawsuit in which he claimed that he had suffered moral harm.

"Besides, his whole family has suffered, since for a year and a half he was limited in his rights; he was forced to endure moral sufferings; and his business reputation was greatly undermined in connection with the criminal case against him; he had to explain to everyone that he was not involved in the crime," the website of the Chechnya's SC has informed.

Salakh Vakhaev tried to recover a million roubles for his illegal prosecution and the damage to his business reputation. In September 2022, the Leninsky District Court of Grozny partially satisfied the claim, awarding him a payment of 300,000 roubles.

The decision was challenged by both the Ministry of Finance and Salakh Vakhaev himself. As a result, the Chechnya's SC decided that the amount of 300,000 was "excessive" and reduced it down to 150,000 roubles.