Akhmed Pogorov sentenced to lengthy prison term in Ingush case

A court in Nalchik announced the verdict behind closed doors for Akhmed Pogorov, co-chair of the World Congress of the Ingush People, sentencing him to nine years in prison on charges of organizing violence at a rally in Magas and participating in an extremist group.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," the Stavropol Regional Court has repeatedly extended the detention of Akhmed Pogorov, co-chair of the World Congress of the Ingush People. The judge disregarded the defense's arguments that the accused suffers from coronary heart disease. The medical unit of the detention center where Pogorov is being held does not have the equipment to provide him with emergency care in the event of an exacerbation of hypertension, his lawyer stated. Pogorov's family and friends complained that they were not allowed to see him for a long time.

The Nalchik City Court sentenced former Interior Minister and political prisoner Akhmed Pogorov to nine years in prison. He was persecuted for participating in rallies over the redivision of the border with Chechnya in 2019, Fortanga reported today.

The court hearing was held behind closed doors. Only Pogorov's lawyers and family were allowed inside, although a delegation from Ingushetia came to support him.

The criminal cases against Pogorov were investigated under the articles "Organizing violence against government officials that is dangerous to health" (Part 3 of Article 33, Part 2 of Article 318) and "Participation in an extremist community" (Part 2 of Article 282.1). The prosecutor's office requested a 13-year-old prison sentence for Pogorov, 62.

Pogorov was detained by security forces in February 2021 and has spent almost all of his time in pretrial detention since then. During the 2018 protests, he was elected a member of the Ingush Committee for National Unity and co-chair of the World Congress of the Ingush People.

According to the case file on the court's website, Pogorov's case was filed in April 2023. The hearings began in June of that year, with some of them adjourned due to the failure of witnesses to appear. A total of 117 hearings were held, the last of which was today. It took the court a month to reach its verdict; the court retired to deliberations on October 20. Seven Ingush activists were charged with creating and participating in an extremist group. In December 2021, the court sentenced Akhmed Barakhoev, Musa Malsagov, and Malsag Uzhakhov to nine years in prison, Ismail Nalgiev, Bagaudin Khautiev, and Barakh Chemurziev to eight years, and Zarifa Sautieva to seven and a half years. The defense team for those convicted in the Ingush case filed an appeal against the verdict with the Supreme Court of Russia, seeking to lift the restrictions in effect after their release, but the court refused to accept the appeal. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "The Main Thing About the Case of the Ingush Protest Leaders".

On March 26, 2019, a large rally, approved by the authorities, took place in Magas. It was permitted to continue until the evening, but protesters stayed overnight. The following morning, March 27, 2019, security forces used force against the protesters.

Akhmed Pogorov became the eighth defendant in the "Ingush Case" to be sentenced to a long prison term. Over the past year, Zarifa Sautieva, Ismail Nalgiev, Bagaudin Khautiev, and Barakh Chemurziev have been released from prison. Sautieva and Nalgiev celebrated their wedding after their release. Malsag Uzhakhov, Akhmed Barakhoev, Musa Malsagov still remain in the colony.