Paul
Goble
Staunton, February 29 – Participants
in the Moscow march to mark the fifth anniversary of the still-unsolved murder
of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov spoke in defense of demonstrators in the
North Caucasus, including Ingushetia, and specifically condemned the persecution
of activists in that republic.
One Moscow marcher who was carrying
a sign reading “Freedom for the Ingush Political Prisoners” said that the persecution
of Ingush activists “is not only illegal but dangerous. The Ingush,” she
continued, “just like the Chechens, are people with strict traditions and they
will not forget insults” (kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/346516/).
Thus what the powers are doing in
that republic, the Moscow protester said, very likely will lead to new protests.
Others agreed and specifically spoke about the seven Ingush protest leaders who
have been accused of organizing an extremist group. Such charges are without
foundation, and the seven must be released.
Meanwhile, lawyers for Zarifa
Sautiyeva, one of the seven, challenged the charges in court and said that
prosecutors were rushing to get the group brought to trial without examining the
facts of the case which show that she and the others are entirely innocent (kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/346506/).
And lawyers for another of the seven,
Barakh Chumurziyev, have filed a second appeal to the European Court for Human
Rights regarding these charges and the illegal procedures officials have employed
to bring them forward (kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/346492/).
His appeal may be another reason Russian officials are engaged in a rush to
judgment.
And finally, in what some will see
as an indication that the Ingush opposition plans to restart protests soon, the
independent Fortanga news agency published guidance on how those taking part
in demonstrations can best protect their rights against the powers that be (fortanga.org/2020/02/kak-vesti-sebya-na-mitinge/).
No comments:
Post a Comment