Amid ECtHR process, convicts for attack on Nalchik are under law enforcers' pressure

Law enforcers are forcing the convicts in the case of the attack on Nalchik to drop their claims against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), their advocate has stated. The organization "Legal Initiative", which represents the interests of victims of torture, was also attacked.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the applicants to the ECtHR complain of torture, unfair trial, and violation of their right to freedom and immunity. Apart from compensations, they now have hope for a real reduction in their prison terms.

The unification of 20 complaints into one case at the ECtHR in the largest criminal process in the modern Russian history (Akhkubekov at al vs. Russia) is unprecedented in its scale, said Rustam Matsev, a lawyer for the "Legal Initiative".

After the communication of the convicts' complaints in the "case of 58", law enforcers began exerting serious pressure on the applicants, Mr Matsev has stated. He has recalled that the applicants, who are serving or have already served their sentences, had been tortured during the investigation by law enforcers, and the "knocked-out" testimonies were used to justify their guilt during sentencing.

After the communication of the case "Akhkubekov et al vs. Russia", Russian authorities have expelled from the country Vanessa Kogan, a US citizen, Director of the "Legal Initiative", which represents the applicants' interests at the ECtHR. Law enforcers have regarded that her activities "pose a threat to Russia's security." Human rights defenders treat this decision as pressure on the organization.