In Astrakhan, former Deputy of Regional Duma states beating in SIZO and fabrication of criminal cases against him

Igor Negerev, a former Deputy of the Astrakhan Regional Duma, sentenced to a fine of 160,000 roubles for an attempt to trip over a GIBDD (traffic police) inspector, states that a new criminal case is being fabricated against him, where he is accused of a false denunciation against law enforcement bodies. The ex-Deputy, who became an invalid during his detention at SIZO (pre-trial prison) under the previous criminal case, also announced his intention to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to appeal against the court decisions passed against him earlier.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported earlier that Igor Negerev, head of the local branch of the Russian Nation's Democratic Union (RNDU), was accused of using violence against a state official and insulting a police inspector. The lawsuit was filed by the GIBDD inspector, who claimed that in October 2009 Negerev hit him with his car during the "Caravan Against Banditry". Negerev himself denies his guilt and believes that the criminal case against him was fabricated.

Negerev: in SIZO, they beat me and took away my medicines

At night on June 11, 2010, the Leninsky District Court of Astrakhan ruled to arrest Negerev for two months. On June 18 by the decision of the Regional Court, after hearing his cassation appeal, Igor Negerev was released from custody.

According to his story, until April 24, 2010, he was in hospital with high blood tension. "And on April 21 the investigator wrote out 10 subpoenas, all of them dated April 21, but issued to different days; on April 22, the district militiaman brought all of them to my home and wrote that I was absent. When I was discharged from hospital, I was at home, every day I received people in my office; all my phones are posted on websites; all my addresses are given in protocols - investigators know everything," said Negerev.

However, on June 10 last year he was summoned to the Regional Prosecutor's Office for interrogation, after which he was detained. According to Negerev, he was accused of hiding from investigation. In his pocket Negerev had a hospital certificate and the medicines that he needs for health indicators. Prior he was put into SIZO, the medicines were confiscated; and Negerev's statements that he needs these medications as prescribed by the doctor remained unanswered.

According to his story, at SIZO he felt bad, and the ambulance called fixed his high blood tension - 180 to 100 mm. "I wrote in protocols that I refused from investigatory actions; however, I was taken to the court, where my advocate moved a petition that we were not familiar with the case and asked to give us 2 days to studying the materials, even though I spent these days in custody. Once again I said that I needed my medications; however, the judge rejected all the petitions," said Negerev.

He said that he was 9 days in jail without medications and medical care.

According to his story, his medical card in SIZO has an entry: "The patient is on the floor of his cell in convulsions. His blood tension is 190 to 110 mm, his heartbeat is 90." "But the investigator at the same time drew a protocol of investigatory actions with me and wrote that the defendant refused to sign it. I was brought from there to the prison clinic; they made an injection and resuscitation actions. On the following day, they loaded me on a stretcher into a paddy wagon and brought to the Investigatory Committee," Mr Negerev recollected.

He added that after his refusal to sign the interrogation protocol he was beaten. A few days later he signed, while being in semi-conscious state, a paper that he had allegedly read the three volumes of his criminal cases on 682 pages and watched the videos.

"I was unable to eat; I had nausea and severe headache. The trial took place on the following day. I was released; a resuscitation team was called to the SIZO, from where I was taken to the regional hospital and placed into the intensive care unit," said Igor Negerev.

On the same day Negerev was taken to the forensic examination, which registered more than 50 bodily injuries inflicted 3-5 days before by blunt solid objects. "Presumably, he was kicked," ran the conclusion. "From the intensive care unit I was taken to cardiology, then - to neuropathology; they awarded me with Category II disability status, because I had bleeding in the brain cerebellum," said Negerev.

"After 9 days in SIZO I became an invalid"

Igor Negerev noted that he could no longer walk straight. "I can now work only at home. Prior to this arrest, everything was fine - I walked, did my work; in the family I could do everything; and there was absolutely nothing close to disability. Everything of these appeared after 9 days in jail," said the ex-Deputy.

Last October, the Leninsky District Court of Astrakhan fined Negerev by 160,000 roubles. According to Negerev, the court suspended the enforcement of the ruling for 3 years.

His advocate wrote a complaint to the Russian General Public Prosecutor Chaika that Negerev had been made invalid in SIZO, deprived of the medicines that he needed for life and was beaten. However, the complaint was forwarded to the Astrakhan City Prosecutor's Office, which refused to initiate proceedings, arguing that Negerev was released in the courtroom and immediately after that someone inflicted bodily injuries to him.

According to Negerev, it is a complete falsification of evidences, which does not match experts' conclusions. But because of his complaint to General Prosecutor Chaika, now a new criminal case has been initiated against Negerev - on charges of false denunciation.

"My appeals, applications and petitions to different authorities with attachment of documents and conclusions were of no help. The situation has reached a point that I have nothing to do but to submit an application to the European Court of Human Rights. I see no other way out," said Igor Negerev.

Investigatory Committee gives no comment on situation with Negerev

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent failed to get any comments from the Investigatory Committee (IC) of the Astrakhan Region. The Committee's press-service responds with the answering machine; and when you get them by other numbers they send you to the press service.

An employee of the IC, who introduced himself as "the acting assistant of the head for interaction with media", but failed to give his name, said that he heard for the first time about accusations against Igor Negerev of false denunciation.

"We've received the inquiry and sent it for consideration; the term is 30 days," said the employee. According to his story, the inquiry on Negerev was received and sent to the head of the IC.

The requests sent to the Internet reception office of the Astrakhan Regional IC regarding Igor Negerev's charge of false denunciation also remain unanswered.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that on March 17 in Astrakhan a number of local Deputies and journalists went on a hunger strike in protest against "political repressions and fabricated criminal cases against opposition activists." Deputy Igor Negerev was among the hunger-strikers. Then he stated that harassments of the authorities against him began after he told in his author's programme on television about corruption in the government and power structures.