The third appeal court in Sochi upheld the sentence in the case of Ibrahim Mankiev, a native of Ingushetia. He was convicted of banditry, assaulting the lives of the security forces, murder and illegal possession of weapons and sentenced to 14 years. Mankiev himself claimed pressure from the security forces, including those who testified against him.
According to the investigators, in 2005-2006 Mankiev was one of the leaders of the NVF "Nazran" operating in Ingushetia and North Ossetia. Later he left for Egypt and was given to the Russian authorities. At the same time, the male relatives said that he left officially, not hiding from anyone.
Mankiev’s defence argued that the courts refused to admit as evidence the letters of the Chief of the UBOP of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ingushetia, which stated that the accused was not a member of the NVF. In addition, the testimony of prosecution witnesses is contradictory and is due to pressure from the security forces, and some have denied the convicted person’s involvement in the crimes. However, the appellate court upheld the sentence.
