16:29, 12 November 2025

Investigators refused to open a case of torture against a Nalchik resident 34 times.

Over seven years, the Investigative Committee has issued 34 decisions refusing to open a criminal case regarding the torture of Nalchik resident Timur Zhambekov. He has already served time for a case in which a confession was obtained after being beaten and electrocuted by security forces, but even the investigation into his torture claims has only been partially completed.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, in 2021, the European Court of Human Rights upheld the complaint of Nalchik resident Timur Zhambekov, who was physically assaulted by security forces in police custody.

By 2021, investigators have refused to investigate the torture claim of Nalchik resident Timur Zhambekov nearly two dozen times over four years . On June 2, 2017, Zhambekov was detained along with his cousin and three acquaintances. He was handcuffed and had a bag placed over his head. He was then beaten in a car and in a security agency building, hitting him on the head and body, including with a fire extinguisher, and subjected to electric shock. The torture continued for several hours, after which Zhambekov signed a confession. A forensic examination confirmed Timur Zhambekov had a broken rib, bruises and abrasions on his chest, arms, and legs, and abrasions on his arms, chest, and back. The expert determined that the victim suffered moderate injuries. On June 5, 2017, Zhambekov complained of torture to the Investigative Committee, but since then, investigators have issued 19 decisions refusing to open a criminal case against Zhambekov, according to human rights activists.

Over seven years, the Investigative Committee has refused to open a criminal case against him on his complaint of torture 34 times. He has already served a five-year prison sentence for a crime he confessed to after being beaten, the "Team Against Torture"* reported today.

Zhambekov's representatives have repeatedly emphasized the need for investigations, but most of them have not yet been completed, according to the human rights project's Telegram channel.

Timur Zhambekov's brother, Rustam Kuchmenov, was also convicted of theft. In December 2017, he filed a complaint with human rights activists about torture after his arrest. He identified five security officials, but none of them were suspended. On July 26, 2020, the criminal case against Kuchmenov for torture was dismissed for the sixth time. In November 2019, the Chegem Court sentenced Kuchmenov to six years in prison on charges of theft. According to investigators, Rustam Kuchmenov and his accomplices committed domestic thefts. He pleaded not guilty. He said that security forces tortured him with electric shocks to extract a confession. Kuchmenov's health has significantly deteriorated since the beating, his lawyer reported.

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Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/417056