Pickets against torture of human rights activists in the capital of Dagestan

Yesterday, June 26, pickets were held in Makhachkala against torture used by the law-enforcement agencies of Dagestan. The action organizers, among them, the "Otechestvo" union of public organizations, devoted it to the International day of supporting victims of torture.

The first picket was held in front of the Dagestan prosecutor's office. Initially, residents of Makhachkala passing by thought that it was a regular act of protest of people demanding that their arrested friends or relatives should be set free. After finding out the aim of the picket from the slogans, many of them joined in or told their stories how they or their relatives had become victims of torture.

When an officer of the prosecutor's office came out to ask what was going on, Magomed Shamilov, chairman of the trade-union of law enforcement agencies, answered that "the criminal lawlessness in Dagestan is directly linked with torture. Torture in the MIA bodies cause terror, and we are against it. Not a single fact of torture has bee considered by the Dagestan prosecutor's office. This is why it was decided to organize the first picket in front of this building."

The second picket was held in front of the Dagestan MIA. The appearance of people with slogans caused a painful reaction of MIA officers, they asked the demonstrators to "break up as soon as possible ", but they did not dare to disseminate the picketers by force.

Picketing ended on the Central square of Makhachkala close to the MIA headquarters. Scores of militiamen tried to persuade the picket participants not to go out into the square, but the picket was held anyway.

The picketers showed the slogans before the Dagestan governments building: "Torture is the cause of terror ", "No to torture in militia and pre-trial prisons ", " Shame on torturers", "The victims of torturer are potential terrorists ", "Dokuzparinsk shooting is shame for the country."