Akhmed Zakayev, Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, has sent an open letter to the international organizations for the political prisoner Ruslan Kutayev.

To:
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Moscow-Helsinki Group
Freedom House

On July 7 2014, in the city of Urus-Martan in the occupied territory of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (ChRI), occupation authorities condemned a sentence to the Chechen human rights activist Ruslan Kutayev as finding him guilty of illicit possession of heroin. The judge Alexandre Dubkov sentenced Mr Kutaev to imprisonment of 4 years in a general regime penal colony. Furthermore, Ruslan Kutayev is prohibited from engaging in political and public activities as well as social events during a year after his release.

Ruslan Kutayev was arrested a day after of a conference non-approved by occupation authorities, which was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of deportation of Chechen people.

Since 2011, 23rd February has not been considered anymore as official memorable tragic day by the occupation authorities, but it was postponed to May 10 for the reason clear only for them.

During the conference, while addressing, Ruslan Kutayev criticised the Russian puppet structures in the Chechen Republic since they forbade organising any memorable actions [related with the deportation in 1944].

Ruslan’s arrest and his “trial” drew attention of the Russian and international human rights activists and the majority of them declared custom nature of the case custom made, and the statements were wheeled out of accused under torture.

The legitimate government of ChRI also believes that all charges brought against Ruslan Kutayev are false and his “trial” is firstly a demonstrational reprisal for his political actions and aimed to intimidate other Chechen political and public activists criticising the occupation authorities in the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. The government of the ChRI considers that Ruslan Kutayev is a political prisoner and prisoner of conscience since his detention.

We appeal all international human rights organisations to recognise him as political prisoner and to render assistance for his fastest release.

01.11.2014

Akhmed Zakayev
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria