Threats against defence lawyer Ramil Akhmetgaliyev
On 26 November 2018, human rights lawyer Ramil Akhmetgaliyev received threats through messenger and was told not to go to Saint Petersburg, where he will represent the World Congress of the Ingush People in the Constitutional Court of Russia.
Ramil Akhmetgaliyev is a human rights lawyer from Kazan, Russia. He has been providing legal assistance as an attorney since 2004 and is currently working as a legal analyst at the International Human Rights Group Agora, which is an association of more than 50 lawyers working on landmark human rights cases across the European part of Russia including cases of torture, the death of individuals in prisons and penal colonies as well attacks against civil rights activists, journalists and bloggers. In 2014, Ramil Akhmetgaliev received an award from the Moscow Helsinki Committee in the category “Human Rights Protection in Court”.
On 26 November 2018, human rights lawyer Ramil Akhmetgaliyev received threats through messenger and was told not to go to Saint Petersburg, where he will represent the World Congress of the Ingush People in the Constitutional Court of Russia.
Ramil Akhmetgaliyev is a human rights lawyer from Kazan, Russia. He has been providing legal assistance as an attorney since 2004 and is currently working as a legal analyst at the International Human Rights Group Agora, which is an association of more than 50 lawyers working on landmark human rights cases across the European part of Russia including cases of torture, the death of individuals in prisons and penal colonies as well attacks against civil rights activists, journalists and bloggers. In 2014, Ramil Akhmetgaliev received an award from the Moscow Helsinki Committee in the category “Human Rights Protection in Court”.
On 26 November 2018, Ramil Akhmetgaliyev received a message from an anonymous person, who recommended him to not come to Saint Petersburg, otherwise he “might get sick and [his] temperature would rise”. The assailant mentioned the place where the human rights lawyer lives, his daughter and the name of his wife, telling him “to spend more time with them”. On November 27, Ramil Akhmetgaliyev will be representing the interests of the World Congress of the Ingush People in the Constitutional Court of Russia situated in Saint Petersburg. Both the Federal Chamber of Lawyers in Russia and the Secretariat of the Constitutional Court of Russia have been notified on the case of threats received by the human rights lawyer.
On 14 November 2018, the World Congress of the Ingush People appealed to the Constitutional Court of Russia to participate in the land dispute which arose as a result of the border deal concluded on 26 September 2018 between Ingushetia and neighbouring Chechnya.
On 30 October 2018, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Ingushetia ruled that the agreement on the establishment of a new border between Ingushetia and Chechen republics was inconsistent with the Constitution of Ingushetia. The head of the Republic of Ingushetia thereupon filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court of Russia.
Front Line Defenders fears for the physical and psychological security of Ramil Akhmetgaliyev and of members of his family and believes that the threats against him are directly linked to his human rights work.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in the Russian Federation to:
1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the threats against Ramil Akhmetgaliyev, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Ramil Akhmetgaliyev, as well as of the members of his family;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the Russian Federation including the human rights lawyers are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
