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23 JUL 2024
For 20 days, the whereabouts of prisoners transferred from Rostov-on-Don pre-trial detention center remain unknown
23 JUL 2024
Relatives and lawyers are still unable to determine the location of three Chechens and one Dagestani who were transferred from Rostov-on-Don pre-trial detention center (SIZO) No. 1 in early July. Relatives fear for their lives. With each passing day, these concerns grow more serious.
As we previously reported, at least four prisoners were suddenly transferred from Rostov-on-Don pre-trial detention center No. 1, where an escape attempt occurred a month ago. Relatives and lawyers were informed that they were in Taganrog pre-trial detention center (SIZO) No. 2, where this information was confirmed. However, neither the lawyers nor the relatives have been able to meet with the prisoners or send them parcels. They fear that they might soon receive news of the missing prisoners' deaths — due to illness or suicide.
On July 4, the wife of one of the prisoners, Magomed Alkhanov, was told at Rostov-on-Don SIZO No. 1 that her husband had been transferred to another facility. She managed with difficulty to get information that it might be Taganrog SIZO No. 2.
On July 8, 9, and 10, a lawyer tried to reach Alkhanov to meet with him but was unsuccessful. He was denied a meeting with his client for spurious reasons.
On July 9, Alkhanov's wife made a purchase at an online store for prisoner deliveries and sent it to her husband. On July 17, she received a reply: the order was canceled because the recipient was not found.
On July 16, Alkhanov's criminal case lawyer also tried to meet with him to prepare for the hearings. However, he too was unsuccessful. The pre-trial detention center informed the lawyer that Alkhanov did not want to communicate with him and presented a statement allegedly written by him.
On July 17, Alkhanov's wife went to Taganrog and tried to arrange a delivery at SIZO No. 2. At the delivery window, she was told that they did not have a card for such a person. Alkhanov's wife insisted that her husband must be at this SIZO. The delivery window employee checked the situation and reported that Alkhanov was in solitary confinement and could not receive deliveries. However, according to the rules, even if he is in solitary confinement, his card should be at the delivery window and the delivery should be accepted.
The next day, July 18, Alkhanov's wife returned to pre-trial detention center No. 2 and tried to get a visit with her husband by court order, but she was denied. The refusal was justified by the fact that Alkhanov was in solitary confinement. Even if this is true, the court order should have allowed her a short meeting with her husband. Meanwhile, the lawyers who tried to meet with him all these days were not told that he was in solitary confinement.
Alkhanov's wife contacted the Public Monitoring Commission (PMC) of the Rostov-on-Don region with a request to visit her husband in SIZO No. 2, but for the third week, the PMC members have been unable to obtain permission for the visit.
These circumstances raise doubts that Magomed Alkhanov is actually in Taganrog SIZO No. 2. For 20 days, there has been no reliable information about his whereabouts, lawyers are not allowed to see him, and parcels and letters do not reach him.
Relatives and lawyers have filed complaints with the Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service (GUFSIN) for the Rostov-on-Don region, Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN), the regional and federal prosecutors, and the regional ombudsman. The lawyer also made an oral statement to the duty officer at the GUFSIN for the Rostov region.
The Memorial Center received information that relatives of other prisoners transferred from Rostov-on-Don SIZO No. 1 also cannot find them.
Their personal data:
Magomed Yusupovich Khanilaev, born June 5, 1993. Relatives say he was in SIZO No. 1 on fabricated criminal charges related to the so-called "Tubin Jamaat" in a Dagestani colony.
Kurbon Ismail Konurovich Mutairov, born September 1, 1992.
Bashir Aslanovich Dibirasaulaev, born March 9, 1993.
Shamil Gusarovich Khantuev, born July 14, 1992.
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