Yesterday, on October 10, the Essentuki city court was to hear the complaint filed by Chairman of INGO “Committee Against Torture” Igor Kalyapin against blatant omissions of officials from the Main Administration of the Russian Interior Ministry for the North-Caucasian Federal Territory in connection with Islam Umarpashayev’s abduction and long-term unlawful detention at Chechen OMON premises.  The Investigation Committee instigated criminal proceedings upon the fact of Umarpashayev’s abduction, in December 2010 the case was transferred to the Main Investigation Administration of the Russian Investigation Committee.  

It must be noted that Main Investigation Administration investigator, colonel of justice Igor Sobol in charge of the case is incapable of performing an effective investigation into the crime. Although he has sustained several motions requesting investigative actions, these actions have not been implemented. Policemen do not show up for questioning and line-ups, and Chechen internal affairs heads are openly preventing the official investigation.

Sobol’s obligatory requests to ensure presence of certain police officers during investigative activities have been many times ignored by the Main Administration of the Russian Interior Ministry for the North-Caucasian Federal Territory.

I.A. Sobol failed to show up in court for health reasons. Hence, the hearing was rescheduled for 11a.m., October 12, 2011.  

However, after the hearing was already rescheduled, investigator Sobol managed to arrive at the Essentuki city court, thus allowing reporters to ask him questions about the investigation and Umarpashayev’s case in general.