Russian Authorities Must Investigate Beating of Human Rights Lawyer, Human Rights Watch Says

Strategic Insights -

Human Rights Watch today called for an investigation into the beating of a human rights lawyer in Dagestan, Russia. Sapiyat Magomedova, 31, was beaten unconscious by police officers on the premises of the Khasavyurt police department on June 17, 2010. Magomedova represents victims of human rights abuses, including taking their cases to the European Court of Human Rights.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sapiyat Magomedova, a 31-year-old human rights lawyer, was beaten unconscious by police officers on the premises of the Khasavyurt police department in Dagestan, Russia on June 17, 2010.
  • Magomedova represents victims of human rights abuses, including taking their cases to the European Court of Human Rights.
  • The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on human rights defenders in the North Caucasus region, including the brazen killings of six activists last year.
  • The perpetrators of the beating have not been held accountable, despite Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's call in January to support the work of human rights defenders in the region.
  • Human Rights Watch has called on Russia's international partners to urge the Russian government to investigate the beating of Magomedova and to stop impunity for attacks on human rights defenders.
  • Magomedova was beaten by four police officers from the riot unit (OMON) who were called in after she tried to insist on seeing her client.
  • Magomedova's gold chain was taken and her cell phone was broken during the beating.
  • A forensic doctor at the Khasavyurt hospital refused to document Magomedova's injuries, fearing for his own security.

Statistics:

  • 31: The age of Sapiyat Magomedova, the human rights lawyer beaten by police in Dagestan, Russia.
  • 4 June 17: The number of police officers from the riot unit (OMON) who beat Magomedova unconscious.
  • 1: The number of forensic doctors who refused to document Magomedova's injuries.
  • 6: The number of activists who were brazenly killed in the North Caucasus region last year.
  • 1: The number of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's call to support the work of human rights defenders in the region.

Sources:

  • Human Rights Watch
  • Tanya Lokshina, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Moscow office
  • Sapiyat Magomedova, human rights lawyer
  • Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
  • Russian authorities in the North Caucasus region
  • The Khasavyurt police department