Since December 14, a native of Chechnya, Khumaid Khaidaev, has been on a hunger strike in pre-trial detention center No. 1 of Irkutsk. He protests against being fed food that is forbidden to Muslims and the cold in his cell. Previously, the court recognized Khaidaev’s torture as legal.

According to the Civic Assistance Committee, several other arrested people also went on a hunger strike. Prisoners suffering from humiliating treatment and cold conditions repeatedly filed complaints with the administration. There was no result. They also contacted the prosecutor's office.

The deterioration of the situation of prisoners in this pre-trial detention center is not accidental and is due to the fact that those involved in the criminal case of a riot in IK-15 in the Irkutsk region are being held there, says Oyub Titiev, coordinator of the Civic Assistance program for helping prisoners native to the North Caucasus.

Last year, the Kirovsky District Court of Irkutsk recognized as legal the refusal to initiate a criminal case regarding the torture to which Khumaid Khaidaev was subjected. He was abused in pre-trial detention center-1 of Irkutsk after a riot of prisoners in IK-15 of Angarsk, Irkutsk region, was suppressed in April 2020.

Khumaid Khaidaev was one of the protesting prisoners. After the riot was suppressed, he was taken to a pre-trial detention center and subjected to beatings and abuse. He said that, on instructions from the detention center staff, he was hung up by his arms and legs, beaten, and burned with a hot metal spoon. Later, doctors recorded fractures of Khaidaev’s left toes and right hand, as well as multiple bruises, abrasions and bruises.