The Nalchik court has kept the Ingush woman and public activist Zarifa Sautieva behind bars for at least two months, despite the moral code of the Caucasus, for which the imprisonment of a woman, especially without valid reasons, is considered incredible.
The decision violates the principles of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation regarding the choice of preventive measures for the accused.
The court disregarded numerous arguments in favor of keeping the defendant under house arrest. These included dozens of positive character references and guarantees from influential public figures in Ingushetia, including the State Human Rights Commissioner.
In addition, there were reports of threats against the public activist by police officers and statements from property owners in Nalchik, where the defendant was taken from her native republic, expressing their agreement to let her stay there under house arrest.
The prosecution insisted that the public activist could flee abroad, although the court ignored the fact that her passport had been confiscated by the law enforcement authorities themselves.
Certainly, the dehumanization of the repressive system in Putin’s Russia, characterized by the almost complete absence of acquittals and the choice of preventive measures for non-dangerous individuals, is a nationwide trend.
However, even taking this into account, the decision taken against this mature Caucasian woman and respected public activist of the republic has a demonstratively intimidating character.
This is not surprising, since intimidation has become the main language through which the Russian authorities communicate with their society (not only in the Caucasus).