Magomed Khazbiev complained to the ECHR about his detention

The oppositionist was kept in a cage during the trial and was not allowed to attend his father's funeral.

Oppositionist from Ingushetia Magomed Khazbiev, accused of illegal possession of weapons (Article 222 of the Criminal Code), insulting a representative of the authorities (Part 1 of Article 319 of the Criminal Code) and incitement of hatred (Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code), filed with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) complaint against detention. This was reported by the international human rights group "Agora" with reference to the lawyer Andrey Sabinin.

The applicant contends that the Russian authorities violated the prohibition on inhuman treatment, the rights to liberty and security of person and respect for private and family life (Articles 3, 5, 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights). We are talking about the fact that Khazbiev was kept in a cage at the trial, arrested unreasonably, and also that he was not released from custody for his father's funeral.

The case of 38-year-old Khazbiev has been pending in court since June 2018. Charge under Art. 282 of the Criminal Code concerns inciting hostility personally to the head of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the government, representatives of the judiciary, law enforcement and power structures. We consider this accusation unfounded. Unfortunately, the content of Art. 282 of the Criminal Code, which includes a vague concept of "social group", gives law enforcement agencies the opportunity to prosecute citizens not only and not so much for inciting hatred towards vulnerable minorities, but for criticizing officials. Courts considering such cases do not always take into account the clarification of the Russian Supreme Court that the limits of permissible criticism of officials are wider than those of private individuals, and therefore such criticism should not by default be considered an act aimed at humiliating their dignity. For more information on the expertise underlying the charge, see here .

Sources

• Report of the international human rights group "Agora". September 10, 2018