15 September 2018, 08:17
Defence complains about quality of Imam Velitov's treatment
Makhmud Velitov, the Imam of the Moscow "Yardyam" Mosque, convicted for justifying terrorism, was kept at the Astrakhan City Hospital, chained to the bed; now, he is back at the prison hospital, where they fail to treat his heart problems, but tore off his nails because of fungus, Velitov's advocate has stated.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 29, it became known about Makhmud Velitov's urgent hospitalization to the hospital at the correctional colony in Astrakhan, and then to the Astrakhan City Hospital.
In April 2017, Makhmud Velitov was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a penal colony. The court found justification of terrorism in the Makhmud Velitov's preaching about killed Dagestani religious figure Abdullah Gappaev, who, according to investigators, was a member of the organization "Hizb ut-Tahrir" banned in Russia. The Imam claims he was not aware that the law enforcement bodies considered Abdullah Gappaev as a terrorist. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" recognized the Imam to be a political prisoner.
On September 10, Imam Velitov was returned to the prison hospital, Yulia Dubrovina, the head of the press service of the Astrakhan regional branch of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN), told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Makhmud Velitov was returned to the facility, where he received no treatment and, probably, suffered a heart attack, Dagir Khasavov, his advocate, insists. "Velitov was kept in the prison hospital from July 24 to August 7. He had a heart ache, but he wasn't treated; no help was given to relieve the pain, but he got rid of the nails on his big toes, explaining this by the need to treat the fungus. He was treated there against the fungus, but not his heart problems," Mr Khasavov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent today.
According to the advocate, at the city hospital, Velitov was diagnosed "a post-infarction condition with side effects."
At the city hospital, Velitov was handcuffed to the bed, which was "torture" and "manifestation of sadism," said the advocate.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 14, 2018 at 8:16 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Alena Sadovskaya Source: CK correspondent
