"International Memorial" demanded that the case of human rights activist Oyub Titiev from Chechnya be transferred to the federal level

The International Society "Memorial" has demanded that the investigation of the case of the head of the Grozny branch of the human rights center "Memorial" Oyub Titiev be transferred to the federal level - to the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

The organization also believes it is necessary to transfer the investigation materials into Titiev's statement against the police officers from the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Chechnya to the federal level. The human rights activist claims that the drugs found during the search of his car were planted on him; International Memorial supports this point of view.

The organization compares Titiev's case with the case of the head of the Karelian branch of Memorial, Yuri Dmitriev , which "is now falling apart in court." "This time, the provocation was organized in the Chechen Republic, that is, in a territory where neither law nor justice has existed for a long time," notes International Memorial.

After repeated offensive and threatening statements by the head of the Chechen Republic Kadyrov against human rights activists, it is impossible to count on a conscientious investigation in Grozny.

Memorial

• Oyub Titiev, 60, is under arrest on charges of possessing 180 grams of marijuana. He claims the drugs were planted on him and that the prosecution is linked to his human rights work. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has publiclycalled Titiev a "drug addict with hashish."
• A few days later, the Ingush office of Memorial burned down in Nazran; a criminal case of arson was opened. In Makhachkala, on January 23, a car belonging to the Dagestani representative office of the organization caught fire; a container with an incendiary mixture was found next to it.