Press Release, 2.12.2020

Photo (from left to right): Magomed Mutsolgov and Ruslan Mutsolgov

Magomed Mutsolgov, public figure, journalist and human rights activist, forwarded an appeal to Tatyana Moskalkova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Valery Fadeyev, Chairman of the Council on Civil Society Development and Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation, Andrei Babushkin, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Assistance to the Public Monitoring Commission of the Reform of the Penitentiary System and Prevention of Offenses of the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, and Ibragim Tzechoev,  Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Ingushetia, asking their assistance in protection of human rights of himself, his brother Ruslan Mutsolgav, leader of the Ingush branch of Yabloko, and members of their families.

Magomed Mutsolgov writes that “on 28 November 28, at about 7 o’clock in the morning, my family and the family of my brother Ruslan Mutsolgov, Chairman of the Ingush regional branch of the Yabloko party, as well as the adjacent streets, were surrounded by heavy armored vehicles and numerous fighters of special operation forces. For several hours, his house was blocked, officers of the Department of Internal Affairs for the city of Karabulak, a district commissioner were summoned to the scene, in addition, the security forces asked the neighbours exactly which houses we and our families lived in, when they last saw Ruslan, and whether they knew his phone number. By coincidence, Ruslan was not at home, and in his absence the law enforcement did not break the gates and, without waiting for his return, left at about 10:30 a.m. My absence from home at this time wasa due to my being outside the country. In the spring of 2019, at the insistence of my family and friends, I decided to leave the country so as not to provoke the security forces and not become another victim of the reprisals launched in the republic.”

Magoved Mutsolgov also adds that “over the years of my public, journalistic and human rights activities, I, my relatives and the organisation I head, have been continuously subjected to unreasonable searches, during which office equipment, mobile phones, documents, books, booklets, magazines were seized. During a search in my house and office of the MASHR Human Rights Organisation on 15 April, 2019, conducted within a criminal case opened on the events [mass-scale public protests against arbitrary decisions of the authorities of Ingushetia and Chechnya to give part of Ingush lands to Chechnya] in Magas on 27 March, 2019, equipment, mobile phones, documentation, literature and the seal of the organisation were also seized.

In recent years, such acts of intimidation have become common practices for Ingushetia in general, and for us in particular, since we are an integral part of the Ingush society. We are law-abiding residents of the republic, law enforcement agencies have never had any claims against us in the field of law, all these persecutions against us were carried out at the request of the regional authorities because of our human rights and journalistic activities. Numerous criminal and administrative prosecutions did not lead to anything, which is the obvious confirmation of the lawfulness of our activities. In addition, due to this constant harassment, we have been interviewed, interrogated and involved in legal proceedings hundreds of times. In the opinion of the population, these actions represent open reprisals against political, public and religious figures who publicly speak out in defence of the interests of the republic and its population. Old people, women and children suffer the most from these acts of intimidation. I am sure that this is not permissible and these practices should be stopped as destructive and harmful, as having nothing to do with either law or fight against crime. Such actions do not lead to peace and harmony in society, have no positive effect either for the authorities or for the population.”

“Over the past years, the socio-political situation in Ingushetia has been raising serious concerns. The gap in relations between the government and society has been only growing, and at the same time, the population’s distrust of the entire system of government bodies has increased. The current situation and the actions of the republic’s leadership led to the fact that the peaceful Ingush people went to protest actions demanding respect and observance of their constitutional rights. The boiling point was the anti-popular and illegal signing of the Agreement on changing the border and territory of the republic. After that, senseless and cruel reprisals were launched in Ingushetia, the victims of  these reprisals were hundreds of our fellow citizens. Leaders and protesters have been still unfairly kept in custody, including respected elders and a young girl.

The persecution, searches and other events in relation to public, political and religious figures, after the start of mass reprisals, are held within the framework of a criminal case initiated on events in Magas on the morning of 27 March, 2019. On that day, the security forces, at the request of the regional authorities, used force against the residents of the republic, who were peacefully gathered at the parking lot of the national TV and radio company. At the same time, the visit of the security forces in the morning of November 28, 2020 to my brother’s house remains unclear and alarming, since he was not in Magas in the morning of 27 March, 2019, and the law enforcement are well aware of this.

Based on the above, I am asking you to assist in protecting the constitutional rights of Ruslan Mutsolgov, a public and political figure, as well as members of our families” Magomed Mutsolgov writes.

Based on the Kavkazkiy Uzel (Caucasian Knot) publication

https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/blogs/342/posts/46107