Relatives of The Two Gay Young Men Who Escaped are Detained by Chechnya
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| Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isayev were returned to Chechnya. (lgbtnet.org) |
Relatives of two brothers who fled homophobic persecution in Chechnya — but were later captured — were detained and interrogated by authorities, according to an LGBTQ rights group.
Last month, 20-year-old Salekh Magamadov and 18-year-old Ismail Isteyev, were forcibly returned to Chechnya on suspicion of involvement with an illegal armed group.
Their lawyers say the charges are fabricated. If convicted, they face 15 years in prison.
Now, according to several local reports, authorities are seeking to locate the men’s parents.
According to The Moscow Times, the Russian LGBT Network said that on Tuesday, 20 of the brothers’ relatives were held in the village of Komsomolskoye in the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya.
For two hours they were interrogated by police about the whereabouts of the men’s parents. They were all released overnight, according to Caucasus Knot.
Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isayev were returned to Chechnya.
According to the independent broadcaster Dohzd, the brothers’ mother and father fled Chechnya after police forced their father to waive his right to counsel.
On March 17, the day when Isteiev turned 18, his mother Zara Magamadova recorded an appeal to Russia’s commissioner for human rights, Tatyana Moskalkova, seeking her help in the case. She also accused authorities of “fabricating” charges against her two sons.
“I’m asking anyone who can help, please help me see my sons alive and in good health,” she said.
According to a statement released by the Russian LGBT News Network, police haven’t been able to provide any “objective evidence of the guilt of Ismail Isaev and Salekh Magamadov.”
They told their lawyers that they were forced to sign statements and testimonies under threats and pressure.
“Salekh and Ismail left the Republic, refusing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies,” Veronika Lapina of the Russian LGBT Network, said. “Their abduction and a fabricated criminal case are nothing more than revenge for disobedience.”
“This case is 100% political, there is nothing at all, no evidence,” said their lawyer Alexander Nemov. “And yes, we understand that this is Chechnya and Chechen ‘special’ justice. But let’s be honest — Chechen law enforcement officers have never faced such pressure before,” he added.
On Monday, the European Union sanctioned two Chechnya officials over their role in an anti-LGBTQ crackdown in the region, the Washington Blade reported.
Last month the European Court of Human Rights ordered Chechnya to provide the brothers access to lawyers, health care, and relatives.
However, according to the Russian LGBT Network, it took their lawyers several weeks to meet with them.
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