Kabarda–Balkaria
Russia places Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko on wanted list
The leader of the Khabze organisation is being sought under an unnamed article of Russia’s Criminal Code.
Martin Kochesoko
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Kabarda–Balkaria
Martin Kochesoko’s lawyer: There are contradictions in witness testimonies
Martin Kochesoko’s lawyer claims that there are inconsistencies in the testimonies of witnesses in her client’s case. Kochesoko is an activist from the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. Kochesoko’s hearing took place on 21 October in a regular session of the Urvansky District Court in Kabardino-Balkaria. Kochesoko, a Circassian activist and the leader of Circassian group Khabze, is accused of drug possession. Kochesoko was arrested in Kabardino-Balkaria in June 2019. Police said a bag
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Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko charged again
Activist and head of the Circassian rights group Khabze has been charged with drug possession, after a previous charge was withdrawn pending further investigation. The new indictment was brought against Kochesoko on 20 February. In June 2019, Martin Kochesoko was detained along with two other social activists from the Khabze in the Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. Police report that they found a package of drugs in the car the three activists were travelling in. The two others w
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Five acquitted in Karachay-Cherkessia over photo in support of Kochesoko
On 25 November, a court in Cherkessk, the capital of Russian republic of Karachay–Cherkessia, acquitted five people accused of staging an illegal protest. Aslan Pseunov, Zurab Pseunov, Zuleta Pseunova, Amerbi Khashpakov, and Marina Fizikova posed for a photo on the square in front of the Government House of Karachay–Cherkessia with posters reading ‘I/We are Martin Kochesoko’ on 16 June. Pseunova told OC Media that the photo was taken to post on Instagram to support arrested Circassian
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Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko released on bail as defence claims rigged witness testimonies
On 23 August, the Supreme Court of the Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria released Martin Kochesoko, who has been under house arrest, on bail. His defence insists that drugs were planted on him and witnesses gave false testimonies. At the bail hearing on 23 August, Timur Khutov, one of Kochesoko’s lawyers, argued that the case was political. According to Khutov, Kochesoko was placed under house arrest ‘not because he allegedly possessed drugs, but because the police officers plante
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Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko transferred to house arrest
The Supreme Court of the Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria has released Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko into house arrest, satisfying an application by his defence team. Kochesoko, the leader of Circassian youth group Khabze, was arrested on the 7 June on cannabis possession charges. The day after his detention, the offices of Khabze were raided by police and all their computers seized. Kochesoko and his lawyers insist the charges against him were fabricated by the authorities a
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Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko arrested in Kabardino-Balkaria on drugs charges
The leader of Circassian group Khabze, Martin Kochesoko, has been arrested in the Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria on drugs charges. Two other members of the group were also detained. The car in which Martin Kochesoko and his colleagues Murat Shurdumov and Aslandzheri Dymov was stopped by traffic police in Lesken District in the south-east of Kabardino-Balkaria on 7 June, Caucasian Knot reported. According to the police, during a search and inspection of the car, a bag of drugs was
