Press release, 8.11.2018

Adam Medaliyev, one of Yabloko leaders in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, was attacked late 7 November.

When Medaliyev arrived at his house on the outskirts of Nalchik two unidentified persons in medical face masks called him, knocked him down, and began beating him. One of the attackers had a baseball bat. However, Medaliyev managed to do a knees-to-chest pose and show resistance. The attackers got away in a car without a number plate.

Adam Medalieyev, Yabloko Chair Emilia Slabunova, Chair of Kabardino-Balkarian Yabloko branch Khakim Kuchmezov

Later Medaliyev’s car was set on fire and burned down.

Doctors say that the condition of the patient is satisfactory.

According to Yabloko, Adam Medaliev was attacked because of his professional activity. He protects the interests of the residents of the republic who were deprived of land at court. “At present almost all land in the republic belongs to a small number of people. There are villages where local residents do not own even a small land plot,” Khakim Kuchmezov, Chair of regional party branch, says.

Medaliyev has recently managed to win a court case on a land plot in the village of Nartan. In 2017 farmer Ruslan Kumakhov, Medaliyev’s colleague, was murdered as a result of land disputes.

“The regional party branch has more than once demanded that the government of the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria solve land disputes. Sooner or later this issue may lead to very serious problems,” Kuchmezov explains.

Tomorrow, on 9th November, a press conference in connection with the attack on Amad Medalieyv will take place in Nalchik.