Dagestani athletes criticize law enforcers for violent dispersal of rally in Makhachkala

Law enforcers have dispersed anti-mobilization protesters in Makhachkala with excessive cruelty and by unreasonably using force against a woman, the mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters Magomed Ismailov, Mukhammad Mokaev and Amirkhan Oev have pointed out.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 25 and 26, in Makhachkala, law enforcers dispersed the anti-mobilization protest actions. According to human rights defenders, at least 250 people were detained at two rallies. Eyewitnesses have posted videos, one of which shows a man in uniform hitting a detainee in the face, who is being held by two law enforcers. Another video shows a law enforcer pushing a woman with such force that she fell down.

Law enforcers conducted excessively harsh detentions, Idris Yusupov, a "Novoye Delo" journalist, who covered the protests and was also detained, has confirmed.

The actions of the law enforcer, who pushed the woman at the protest in Makhachkala, were sharply criticized by Magomed Ismailov, a MMA fighter. "Women should not take part in such events. But if the situation is such that there are women there ... I don't know what to call this young man in uniform," the "Sport24" has quoted him as saying.

Ismailov also condemned the law enforcer, who hit the detainee in the face. "You should control yourself. Firstly, this is your people. Many things will not go unpunished. Especially when you touch a woman – someone's sister or mother, who is not from your family. You have no right to touch her!" Ismailov has stressed.

Mukhammad Mokaev, a native of Dagestan, who is also an UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter, has also criticized law enforcers' actions. "A very ugly situation is taking place in Dagestan; you are humiliating and abusing your fellow countrymen. It's clear that you had an order to stop the rally, but you could have done it without pulling women," the "Fight Wave" has quoted Mokaev as saying.

Amirkhan Oev, a native of Dagestan, a pop-MMA fighter, has called the law enforcer, who used force against a woman "not a man."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 29, 2022 at 08:31 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.