Advocate tells about Aslan Cherkesov's placement into dungeon

Aslan Cherkesov, a resident of Kabardino-Balkaria, convicted for killing a football fan, is regularly extended his stay in the dungeon (punishment cell, also known as ShIZO) and tortured, said Maria Bogdanova, his advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since February 11, Aslan Cherkesov has been kept in the dungeon and is complaining about his custody conditions, while the inspecting and supervising bodies fail to react to his applications, the Kabardino-Balkarian Regional Human Rights Centre has stated.

Aslan Cherkesov is kept in terrible conditions, Ms Bogdanova, who has visited her client, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "The cell in which they keep him is in the basement; it's not ventilated. It's in fact ShIZO. Aslan has been kept there since his arrival at this prison, since February 11, and is not allowed to leave the cell," Maria Bogdanova said by phone.

She has added that the law does not allow keeping an inmate in dungeon for more than 15 days. However, every 15 days a new penalty is imposed on Cherkesov, and his stay in the ShIZO is extended; he is kept there already for the third time.

Aslan Cherkesov is tortured, Maria Bogdanova, his advocate, has stated. "Twice a day, they 'stretch' him: they put his hands against the wall, and his legs are pulled apart almost into splits. We intend to appeal against these actions of the prison staff in court. But we need records of video cameras for that, but they are deliberately deleted and not submitted to the court," she has complained.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 9, 2019 at 07:09 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.