Things confiscated during searches returned to scientists in Kabardino-Balkaria

 

Valery Khatazhukov , the chairman of the Kabardino-Balkarian Regional Human Rights Center 

Nalchik, 14.01.2023 - The security forces returned to the scientists in Kabardino-Balkaria the things seized during the searches, but they did not give explanations about the reasons for the searches, one of the scientists said. The actions of the security forces against scientists look like illegal persecution, lawyer Zaur Shokuev pointed out.

On November 18, 2022, human rights activists in Kabardino-Balkaria called on the head of the republic, Kazbek Kokov, to prevent the persecution of scientists from the Institute for Humanitarian Studies of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who are trying to recreate the true history and defend the native languages of the peoples of the North Caucasus. The appeal was supported by local activists, scientists, teachers and artists.

On December 1, 2022, representatives of the Circassian diaspora in Turkey appealed to the head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Kazbek Kokov, with a request to stop the persecution of scientists. The Ministry of Education and Science of Kabardino-Balkaria, in response to the appeal of the Circassian diaspora, indicated that the information about the persecution of employees of the Institute for Humanitarian Research is unreliable. Human rights activist Valery Khatazhukov stated that the data provided in the ministry's response was unreliable. 

Public pressure played a positive role in the story of the searches of scientists from the Institute for Humanitarian Research of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences - they were returned the things seized during the searches,  Valery Khatazhukov said, the chairman of the Kabardino-Balkarian Regional Human Rights Center. “They returned things to Khakuasheva, Aloeva, and, most likely, the rest, from whom they took away equipment, gadgets, manuscripts, etc.,” Khatazhukov said.

At the same time, there is no information about the reason for the searches, according to him. "It is absolutely not clear what could have caused such harsh actions of the security forces against scientists. After all, all their scientific activities are transparent. There are no and cannot be any complaints about it," the human rights activist believes.