Relatives of Stavropol resident accused of extremism appeal to ECtHR

Gegam Rostomyan, the father of a disabled child, was detained on suspicion of possessing drugs, but then law enforcers accused him of involvement in an extremist organization because of a transfer of 500 roubles. The man gave confessions under torture, his relatives assert.

According to Gegam's mother, law enforcers have obtained his confession after prolonged torture. "In April, Gegam was beaten up, tortured with electric current, and demanded to confess to the involvement in a Muslim extremist organization," his mother, Zamira Botasheva, has stated.

She has added that her son had never been tried and had no problems with the law.

Gegam grew up in a Muslim family and adopted Islam at the age of 15. In 2016, he got married, and his daughter was born – a Category Two disabled person.

After Gegam's detention, difficulties arose related to the treatment of the daughter, Zamira Botasheva has noted.

The family often participated in fundraising to help children, and one of the transfers could have caused Gegam's detention, his sister Sonia believes.

According to her story, should Russian authorities fail to fairly investigate this case and acquit her brother, then the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will do it.

According to Aida, Gegam's wife, law enforcers threatened her husband that they would bring charges against her too, if he did not confess. This is due to the fact that the transfer attributed to her husband was made from her bank card, the woman has explained.