Hunger strike affects health condition of Ingush activists

On Tuesday (March 23), Akhmed Barakhoev, Barakh Chemurziev and Malsag Uzhakhov were unable to take part in the court session due to poor health. Magomed Abubakarov, an advocate, has linked this with the hunger strike conducted by the activists. Doctors insisted that Uzhakhov and Sautieva stop their hunger strike.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the leaders of Ingush protests, accused within the case of the rally in Magas, went on a hunger strike in protest against the court's decision to return Sautieva back to custody from house arrest. On March 23, the hunger strike was stopped. Barakhoev, Malsagov, Chemurziev, Khautiev and Nalgiev explained this decision by requests from the Muftiate and the Council of Teips (Family Clans) of Ingushetia.

Magomed Abubakarov has noted that the hunger strike had a negative impact on activists' health.

Djabrail Kuriev, another advocate, has also pointed to the grave health condition of his client. In his opinion, a hunger strike is an inefficient form of protest. "On the contrary, they should be sensible and not hungry in order to participate in the trial and defend their rights," Mr Kuriev has explained, adding that the Council of Alims, an organization alternative to the Ingush Muftiate, was among those who called for an end to the hunger strike. Djabrail Kuriev spoke negatively about this organization, saying that it "fails to contribute to the improvement of the tense situation in the republic."