Ingushetia trials picketers in memory of Politkovskaya

In Nazran (Ingushetia), a court session has taken place today to trial Magomed Mutsolgov, chairman of the "Mashr" Association of Missing Persons' Relatives, and Albert Khantygov, worker of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial." The former is charged of having organized, and the latter - of having breached the regulations when holding the October 16 picket of Anna Politkovskaya memorial picket, which was cruelly dispersed by the authorities.

According to Magomed Gandaur-Egi, defendants' advocate, from the formal viewpoint only Magomed Mutsolgov may be accused of breaching Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation ("breaching the order of organizing a picket"), since his signature is found under the notification of the city administration about the picket. "The protocols drawn up by militiamen are absolutely outside the law," Magomed Gandaur-Egi told the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

The judge will announce the ruling on the case tomorrow, October 31, at 4 p.m.

We remind you that on October 16 this year, militia and "persons in private clothes" dispersed through application of violence a picket held in memory of Anna Politkovskaya in Bazorkin Avenue in the centre of Nazran.

The consideration of administrative cases of the Politkovskaya memorial picket participants started back at night of October 16 to 17 at the GOVD (City Militia Headquarters) of Nazran, where the detainees in the course of the action were kept. Three ladies-picketers - employees of the "Memorial" Fatima Yandieva, Zoya Muradova and Zarema Mukusheva - were sentenced then for "breaching the established order of holding a picket" to a 500-rouble fine each. The two other young people detained, who were first summoned about midnight of October 16 to the office of the Nazran GOVD, where the lady-judge was sitting, most probably were acquitted. The trial of Mutsolgov and Khantygov, who were then considered to be the organizers of the event, was appointed to midday of October 17, then removed to 3 p.m. of the same day, then to October 18, and finally - to October 30.