A court has sentenced the famous Ingush opposition leader, Magomed Khazbiev and his brothers to ten day administrative prison terms.

On March 24th, a trial was held for the Khazbiev brothers and they were charged with being the organizers of yesterday’s demonstration in Nazran. The Court considered the testimony of one police officer, who indicated that he personally saw Magomed Khazbiev and his two brothers at the protest. As a result, the court sentenced Magomed, Murad, and Bedr Khazbiev to ten day administrative prison terms. The Khazbiev brothers will serve their sentences in the Nazran police station prison.

At the same time, Ingush law enforcement continues their actions against participants of the spontaneous protest on March 23rd. According to the information, Ingush police conducted a search in the Troitskaya village of Ingushetia’s Sunzha region at the home of Zurab Tsechoev, who is an employee of local human rights organization, MASHR.

Yunusbek Yevkurov, the head of Ingushetia, spoke to Russian media about the protest and arrest of the Khazbiev brothers. “In our republic there is no deterioration of the situation, but there are some charlatans who organized the so-called rally, tried to attract attention, and resisted law enforcement. We know about the missing person and we are still looking for him, but it was no reason to organize an illegal action and throw stones or show resistance to police officers. Magomed Khazbiev and his brothers continue to engage in illegal actions. At this time they have organized an unsanctioned action. When the police tried to arrest them, they ran away from them and hid in their house where they were arrested by law enforcement officials,” said Yevkurov.

On the other hand, our editorial staff has received a video which shows the action of Ingush law enforcement officials in front of the Khazbiev family home. The video was taken after the arrest of the Khazbiev brothers. In the video, around 20 armed and masked men in camouflage try to seize Magomed Khazbiev’s car.

Here is the video:

*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco