The state prosecution requested 7.5 years in prison for the Dagestan activist
At a meeting of the Khasavyurt District Court of Dagestan, the prosecutor's office demanded that activist, former coordinator of Navalny's headquarters in Makhachkala, Eduard Atayev, be sentenced to 7.5 years in prison. He was accused of possessing weapons, explosives and drugs. He, like the Memorial Human Rights Center, stated that prohibited items were planted on him.
Eduard Ataev has been in pre-trial detention for the second year. He was initially charged with illegal possession of a grenade, pistol and ammunition. When the activist was being taken to the police station after a search of his house, in the car, according to him, they forced objects that looked like a grenade and a pistol into his hands. He was then charged with drug possession. Eduard Atayev also noted that the investigative actions were led by a person whom he remembered after one of the pickets in Makhachkala.
The activist stated in court that he connects his criminal prosecution with his civil and political position and opposition to corruption schemes in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan. At the end of October, the court suspended the consideration of the case, as the prosecutor's office began an investigation into the statement of torture of Atayev.
