Dagestani blogger recognized as a political prisoner

The human rights project "Support for political prisoners. Memorial" recognized a native of Dagestan, the author of the YouTube channel "Wild paratrooper" Askhabali Alibekov as a political prisoner. In March 2023, the former military man was sentenced to one year and two months in prison for "discrediting" the Russian army.

The man advocated for peace after the start of the "SVO". According to the lawyer, the defendant wanted to save his son from death in the war with Ukraine. In 2018, he served in the Black Sea Fleet and called for a boycott of the presidential elections in the Russian Federation.

The former serviceman is currently in a pre-trial detention center. On February 20, about 15 security officials detained him in Kazan. Alibekov said that he came there to become an observer at the presidential elections. He was attacked by police officers, thrown to the ground and beaten on the body and face. A criminal case has been opened against Alibekov on charges of using violence against police officers.

“The criminal prosecution of Askhabali Alibekov has two goals: to avoid investigations into the police abuse of power during his detention at the Kazan train station and to force the blogger to cease his opposition activities,” the human rights activists said in a statement.

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