Witnesses in Karpyuk, Klykh case nearly detained in Chechnya

The witnesses for defense in the case of Ukrainian political prisoners Mykola Karpyuk and Stanislav Klykh were nearly detained in Chechnya, the Russian Federation.

This was stated by lawyer Dokka Itslaev, the Kavkazky Uzel (Caucasian Knot) media outlet reports.

The witnesses were tried to be detained by the Migration Service of the Chechen Republic, whose representatives came to the Itslaev’s house.

“Considering that there may be all sorts of provocation, I lodge them [the witnesses] in my house. In the morning of March 24, shortly before the court hearing, the Migration Service officials came to my house. They tried to detain the witnesses as they had not registered at the place of stay,” the lawyer said.

However, Itslaev managed to explain the officials that the Ukrainians had subpoenas so they were able to give testimony.

Four relatives of Karpyuk and Klykh as well as human rights activist Maria Tomak came to Chechnya and testified in the court that Klykh and Karpyuk had not been in Chechnya in 1994-1995 and therefore could not participate in the Chechen war.

According to consul of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Rostov Oleksandr Honcharov, the relatives were immediately taken out of Russia after the court hearing.