The detained Chechens Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isaev gave written explanations to lawyer Alexander Nemov, in which they told about beatings by the employees of SIZO-1 in Grozny. The Insider was informed about this in the Russian LGBT Network.
According to the press service of the organization, earlier the lawyer was not allowed to see his clients under the pretext of illness of the brothers COVID-19, despite the fact that they were kept in solitary confinement. In addition, the staff of the pre-trial detention center did not provide the lawyer with any confirmation or legal justification for the refusal to be admitted.
During the interrogation of the clients, it turned out that on July 22, the detainees were scheduled for a hearing in the Achkhoy-Martan District Court. The brothers were taken to the court in the luggage compartment of a UAZ “Patriot” car, which had no ventilation. Because of the heat, Magamadov and Isaev felt sick, but in response to a request to open the windows, the guards began to laugh and insult the brothers because of their sexual orientation. Isaev said that he asked the guard to stop the insults, which subsequently led to violent actions on the part of the SIZO staff.
At the same time, on the same day, the session was postponed without explanation, despite the fact that the detainees were brought to court, and the lawyers were awaiting the session. Magamadov and Isayev were not released from the luggage compartment and taken back to SIZO-1.
The brothers also said that they were forced to have their hair cut bald, despite the fact that there are no such rules for keeping them in the pre-trial detention center. In response to the refusal, on August 8, Salekh Magamadov was kicked in the legs.
In protest, Salekh Magamadov later inflicted 29 cuts on his hands with a razor. Later, an operational officer of the UFSIN held a conversation with him, during which he persuaded the detainee to report cuts due to a nervous breakdown, and not violent acts committed against him. Salekh Magamadov refused to do this. The next day, hearing Saleh’s repeated refusal, the operative began to beat him along with other employees of the pre-trial detention center.
“I could not stand it and told them that I would sign whatever they wanted. After that I was taken to a cell, ”Magamadov said.
On August 12, Ismail Isayev also refused to have his hair cut, after which the deputy head of the pre-trial detention center grabbed him by the throat and hit him against the wall. After that, according to Isaev, the SIZO officer dragged him to an empty cell by force, laid him on the floor and, holding his head with his knees, forcibly tonsured him. Then Isayev was forced to kneel down, after which he was hit several times in the face and stomach.
On August 18, an operational officer demanded that Isaev not tell anyone about what had happened. Otherwise, the officer promised to worsen conditions and imprison Ismail in a punishment cell.
As specified in the Russian LGBT Network, lawyer Alexander Nemov submitted an application to the Investigative Committee on the fact of the incident.