A man who died in police custody amid a regionwide crackdown on protesters and activists in Russia’s republic of Bashkortostan earlier this year was beaten to death by police, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported Wednesday, citing an independent forensic analysis conducted at the request of his family.
Rifat Dautov was among more than 80 people arrested across Bashkortostan in the aftermath of protests in support of jailed Bashkir activist Fayil Alsynov in January. Dautov was detained in the village of Novye Chebenki in the region’s southwestern Zianchurinsky district on the evening of Jan. 25 while taking a walk with his girlfriend.
Prosecutors claimed Dautov was “an active participant” of a pro-Alsynov rally outside a courthouse in the town of Baymak on Jan. 17 — which was attended by thousands of people — and that a police officer allegedly identified the man as a protester who had attacked him.
According to Idel.Realii, RFE/RL’s news service for the Volga-Ural region, Dautov’s family maintains that he did not take part in the protests and was visiting a doctor in the Bashkortostan capital of Ufa on the day of the Baymak rally.
The human rights group Za Prava Cheloveka (ZPC) first reported on Jan. 26 that Dautov died in police custody after his family was asked to visit a morgue in Ufa to identify his body.
Authorities in Bashkortostan claimed that the man died from a heart attack induced by heavy intoxication — a version of events that was actively promoted by government-linked media — but his family and girlfriend insist Dautov had not been drinking on the day of his arrest.
Results of an independent forensic examination obtained by Idel.Realii suggests that Dautov was hit with a “blunt, hard object” at least 48 times while being transported to a police station in Baymak. Bruises covered at least 30% of his body, and he was believed to have lost large amounts of blood as a result of internal bleeding from injuries.
“The entire autopsy picture has excessive signs of death from huge internal blood loss,” Idel.Realii cited the forensics expert as saying.
Lawyer Pavel Vasilyev, who represents Dautov’s family, told Idel.Realii that Dautov’s relatives are preparing to file a petition for conducting a new investigation into his death.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
