Detainees at rally in Ingushetia are on hunger strike at Nalchik SIZO

Six arrested participants of the January rally in Ingushetia are holding a protest hunger strike in the SIZO (pre-trial detention facility) of the city of Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, against extension of their custody term.

The "Caucasian Knot" has already informed that on January 26, 2008, the rally held in the city of Nazran was dispersed by the authorities. In total, according to the prosecutor's office, 48 suspects of mass disorders had been detained. A criminal case was initiated by the Investigatory Department for the Republic of Ingushetia of the Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation (RF) under Parts 1 and 2, Article 212 of the RF Criminal Code ("Organization and participation in mass disorders").

Maksharip Aushev, Magomed Evloev, Ismail Barakhoev, Ramazan Kulov, Ruslan Khazbiev and Salman Gazdiev, who are kept in the Nalchik SIZO, announced their hunger strike on May 23, after their custody term was extended by the travel session of the Nazran District Court (Judge Timur Uzhakhov) held under petition of the Chief Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutor's Office for the South Federal District (SFD).