23:57, 5 October 2024

Public prosecutor requests court to sentence blogger Askhabali Alibekov to four years of imprisonment

Askhabali Alibekov. Screenshot of a video posted on the “Dikiy Desantnik” (Wild Paratrooper) YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf4kH0cCmKE

In a case on an attack on a policeman instituted against Novorossiysk blogger Askhabali Alibekov, a public prosecutor requested the punishment in the form of four years of imprisonment.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that according to the investigators’ version, during his detention, Askhabali Alibekov, a native of Dagestan and an author of the “Dikiy Desantnik” (Wild Paratrooper) YouTube channel, hit a policeman in the leg. On March 4, the court arrested Askhabali Alibekov for two months. On June 26, the blogger complained that he was deprived of phone conversations with his family members and that his letters were not being delivered. On September 5, the court extended the Askhabali Alibekov’s arrest for three months. The blogger claimed in court that he hit the law enforcer by accident, as his arms were being twisted. Human rights defenders recognized Askhabali Alibekov as a political prisoner.

Askhabali Alibekov requested a recusal of the court and a psychiatric examination, but was refused, the “OVD-Info”* human rights project reports.

The charge of using violence against a policeman does not correspond to the real circumstances of the Askhabali Alibekov’s case; and the authorities are forcing the blogger to stop his opposition activities, the “Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial” human rights project stated.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 4, 2024 at 01:09 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot