Dagestani journalist gets back equipment confiscated during search

Police officers have returned laptops and a phone confiscated during a search to Dagestani journalist Idris Yusupov, who was recognized as a "foreign agent." At the same time, law enforcement officers did not give an official response about the reasons for the investigative actions, Memorial employees reported.

In July, Yusupov and lawyer Sultan Telkhigov sent a statement to the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the North Caucasus Federal District asking for materials on the search. In addition, a statement was sent to the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Russia regarding the illegal denial of access to the case materials.

Security officials came to Idris Yusupov's house in Makhachkala at the end of 2023, as well as in March and April 2024. They seized a mobile phone and two laptops. The security officials were interested in the circumstances of the transfer of funds to the Civic Assistance Committee. Yusupov explained that in early 2023, he had been involved in a project of this public organization for several months, related to providing assistance to prisoners from the North Caucasus.

In November 2023, Idris Yusupov was added to the list of foreign agents. The Ministry of Justice justified this decision by his participation in the creation of materials for foreign agents and the dissemination of false information about the authorities of the Russian Federation.

Idris Yusupov regularly holds pickets in support of his colleagues. In particular, he demands the release of political prisoner Abdulmumin Gadzhiev, sentenced to 17 years in prison. In addition, the activist spoke out against sending residents of Dagestan to the "SVO".