Russian authorities must ensure investigation into the killing of opposition website owner Magomed Evloev is truly impartial

The disputed killing in police custody of opposition website owner Magomed Evloev in Ingushetia must be investigated by officials able to act impartially, as well as promptly, thoroughly and independently.

Magomed Evloev was killed on 31 August, after having been detained at Magas airport in Ingushetia, where he had arrived on a morning flight from Moscow. According to reports, Ingush law enforcement officials detained him at the airport, put him into a car and drove him away. Some time later he was admitted to the Republican hospital in Nazran, Ingushetia, with a gunshot wound to his head, where he later died without regaining consciousness.

Officials have reportedly stated that he was detained in order to be questioned as a witness in connection with a criminal investigation. It is not clear what exactly happened between the time he was put into the car and of arrival at the hospital. While the prosecutor of Ingushetia has reportedly stated that he was killed by an accidental shot following a struggle, other reports question this version. An investigation has been opened by the Investigative Committee at the Prosecutor’s office into the incident.

Magomed Evloev was the owner of Ingushetiya.ru, an independent opposition website which featured articles highly critical of the authorities and which the authorities were attempting to close down. Given his vocal opposition to President of Ingushetia, Murat Ziazikov, as well as ongoing allegations of human rights violations committed by law enforcement officials in Ingushetia, the authorities should consider carrying out the investigation at federal, rather than republic, level.

Hundreds of people gathered today in the centre of Nazran to pay their respects to Magomed Evloev and to protest against human rights violations in the region. Amnesty International urges the authorities in Ingushetia to respect the right to peaceful freedom of assembly and ensure that law enforcement officials do not disperse with force peaceful demonstrators.