Council from Europe

The Commissioner of the Council of Europe on Human Rights Nils Muzhniex called on the Russian authorities immediately release the head of the Chechen representative office of the Human Rights Center "Memorial" Oyub Titiev. This was reported by Interfax with reference to the statement of the European Ombudsman received by the agency.

“With deep concern, I learned about the detention on the eve of the Chechen authorities of the famous human rights activist and the head of the Chechen representative office of the Human Rights Center“ Memorial ”Oyub Titiev,” the statement of Mujniex. - Being a representative of the Memorial, one of the most authoritative and experienced human rights organizations in Russia, Oyub Titiev has been invaluable to protect human rights to protect the rights of human rights for many years ”

Titiev is "undergoing criminal prosecution of dubious accusations," the European Ombudsman believes. "I am calling for the Russian authorities, both regional and federal, to ensure the immediate liberation of Mr. Titiev and provide him with the necessary protection," Mujniex said.

On Tuesday, Titiev was detained when he was traveling from home in a curly to work in Grozny. Friends saw that the police officers were searching for a human rights activist. However, Titiev showed not to approach. Then Tetiev was taken to Kurchaloevsky District OMVD. At first, at first they denied that Titiev was with them , although the human rights activist was standing in the courtyard of the department. The lawyer was not allowed to the client for some time.

Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Chechnya said that the case of illegal trafficking in drugs was open against Titiev. It was claimed that when examining the "Lada Kalina" human rights activist, stopped on the Oishar - Kurchal -Mesker -Yurt, allegedly to verify documents, "a polymer package with a vegetable substance with a specific marijuana smell weighing about 180 grams" was discovered. "

The substance is aimed at examination, and the detainee itself is a medical examination, the Kadyrovites say.

180 grams of marijuana according to the government’s decree is considered a large size. Thus, Titiev is charged with part 2 of Article 228 of the Criminal Code, which provides for 3 to 10 years in the colony.

Drug cases against public activists were fabric in Chechnya earlier. In 2014, Ruslan Kutaev, president of the Assembly of the peoples of the Caucasus, was convicted of the same part 2 of Article 228 of the Criminal Code. Three weeks ago, he freed himself from the Chechen IK-2 general regime in the village of Chernokozovo, completely serving a period of 3 years 10 months.

In 2016, on the same charges , the journalist of the Caucasian Knot Jalalaudi Geriev received three years of general regime. In the cassation, the case was retrained from part 2 to the less difficult part of Article 228, but the term of the political zyt was left unchanged.

Both Kutaeva and Geriev were tortured after detention, seeking confession.