Adyghe activist Kase Kik left Russia after being tortured by law enforcers after he asked to play a song in Ukrainian in a cafe. This was reported by the "Caucasian Knot" with reference to the human rights activists of the "Memorial" center ( liquidated in Russia ).
“He went abroad, not wanting to take any more risks. And allegations of torture have not yet been filed,” said an employee of the human rights center. The activist himself said that he left the country because of fears for his safety.
According to Kik, on May 13, he had dinner with a friend at a cafe in Cherkessk, where he ordered a karaoke song in Ukrainian. One of several security officials who were at that moment in the cafe ran up to the activist and began to ask why he ordered the Ukrainian song and whether he was against "our president." At the same time, the security officer refused to present his certificate.
Kik replied that he had a pacifist position, after which the man returned, accompanied by five people, some of the security forces, according to the activist, were intoxicated. One of them tried to hit the activist, but other men stopped him with the words: “We will deal with him in the department.” Kik was taken outside and taken in a car to the department of one of the law enforcement agencies, where he was tortured. The next day, the activist was brought to court, and a decision was made to arrest him.
During the examination for alcohol intoxication, carried out on the morning of May 14, Kik was confirmed to have been beaten: upon examination, he complained of “pain in the region of the ribs of the thoracic region on the left, aggravated by inhalation”, and “fresh bruises on the neck, face, behind the ears” were also revealed , hematomas. In addition, human rights activists have at their disposal photographs of Kik's face and body taken after his release.
On June 10, the security forces again detained Kik in Cherkessk, tortured him and drew up a protocol on petty hooliganism. The court appointed him seven days of arrest, finding him guilty. Immediately after Kik left the department, he was forced to emigrate. Kik confirmed that no allegations of torture had yet been filed.
“I consulted with [Team Against Torture], they said that it would be necessary to come to Russia for some procedures. But for me this is unacceptable, because it is directly related to my security, and I will be detained. And to go through this nightmare again, I have no desire.
According to Kik, from his student days he took part in the public Circassian national youth movement "Adyge-Khase KChR", from 2008 to 2012 he headed the "Circassian Congress of the KChR", and also organized cultural mass events aimed at reviving traditional Circassian customs, in including funeral processions on May 21 in Cherkessk.
Earlier in June, unidentified persons beat up anti-war activist Oleg Klimenchuk in St. Petersburg. According to the man, the attack took place on June 14 near his house. One of the attackers said: “How much did you sell out, bitch? If you come out again, I'll kill you!" and "You don't have to go to the cops, I'm a cop myself." At the end of May, SOTA journalist Pyotr Ivanov was beaten up in St. Petersburg. Two unidentified men guarded him near his house, threw him to the ground and beat him, striking him on the head. After that, the attackers took a picture of Ivanov and asked: “Are you going to do more ***** (garbage)?” After that, the perpetrators fled. From the beginning of the war, Ivanov covered anti-war actions in St. Petersburg.
