A lawyer in Dagestan reports her client's illegal holding in custody

Lawyer Sapiyat Magomedova reports that her client, resident of Dagestan Abdurahman Djakaev suspected of illegal storage of arms, was unlawfully kept in custody. According to her, her client's custody term expired yesterday, July, 18, but he has not yet been released.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that during a session of Khasavyurt district court on April, 2, Djakaev's custody term was prolonged for a month. This was done in the absence of his attorney who warned the court beforehand that she could not be present at the hearings. On April, 6, judicial board of the Supreme Court of Dagestan canceled the judgment of Khasavyurt district court. On April, 30, the court did not consider prolongation of the term of Djakaev's arrest in his attorney's absence.

On July, 3, Khasavyurt district court prolonged Djakaev's custody term for four more months upon a motion of investigative bodies of Khasavyurt district Department of Interior Affairs. However, the lawyer appealed against the judgment on July, 5. Abdurahman Djakaev is suspected of a crime stipulated by clause 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal storage of arms).

"Abdurahman Djakaev's custody term expired on July, 18. Since yesterday we expected him to be released but that was not done. Moreover, in Khasavyurt district Department of Interior Affairs I was told that 24 hours after his illegal holding in custody they were going to take him to court under guard for prolongation of his custody term. I complained of unlawful actions of the personnel of district Department of Interior Affairs to district Public prosecutor's office but they ignored my appeal", Sapiyat Magomedova said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent today.

According to her, consideration of the question of prolongation of his custody term was going to be held today in her absence. "I informed the investigator and Public prosecutor's office that I was out of town and asked not to hold the trial without me but I think my demand will be also ignored", Magomedova said.

She added that the same day upon the results of the judgment she would appeal against both "24 hours of illegal keeping her client in custody and prolongation of his custody term itself". Magomedova emphasizes that Djakaev has been under investigation already over four months.

"The case against Abdurahman Djakaev is at the stage of investigation and is not liable to discussion", a representative of Khasavyurt district Department of Interior Affairs said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Khasavyurt district court has not yet confirmed the information of considering the motion of prolongation of the term of Djakaev's arrest explaining that "such cases are considered by the judge on duty". There is no information of a trial on Djakaev's case on the web-site of the court, either.