Dagestani blogger Alibekov complains about being beaten in SIZO

Askhabali Alibekov, a native of Dagestan, who was sentenced to imprisonment in Novorossiysk for posts on his blog, complained of being beaten in a SIZO (pre-trial prison), his wife said.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on March 23, Askhabali Alibekov was sentenced to a year and two months of imprisonment when a court found him guilty of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

Askhabali Alibekov claimed that he was beaten in the SIZO, the “Kavkaz.Realii”* reports with reference to Patimat, the wife of the blogger.

Let us remind you that in January, the court denied Askhabali Alibekov a special procedure for considering his criminal case, which provided for an admission of guilt and refusal of a judicial investigation in exchange for a milder punishment. The court considered that Askhabali Alibekov repented insincerely.

Askhabali Alibekov’s YouTube channel posted videos criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin and the actions of the Russia’s authorities.

It should be noted that in 2017, Askhabali Alibekov was sentenced to three years of conditional sentence. The court found that the native of Dagestan, being a deputy platoon commander, hit a junior in rank and broke his jaw. In March 2018, Askhabali Alibekov announced that after calling on Vladimir Putin to leave the presidency, he was dismissed from his service in the Russian Navy and received threats against his family.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.