Salekh Magamadov

Extra Bio Info:

Salekh Magamadov is imprisoned in relation to state-imposition of a particular religious interpretation. 

On February 4, 2021, Magamadov and Magamadov's sibling, Ismail Isaev, - two LGBTI+ youths - were kidnapped and forcibly returned to Chechnya. They had fled to Nizhny Novgorod in June 2020 after being allegedly tortured by Chechen police because of their perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. In March 2020, police detained the two and reportedly tortured them over a youth Telegram account they ran in which they criticized Chechen authorities and Islam.

During his detention, Magamadov was reportedly denied legal representation of Magamadov's choosing and forced to sign a false confession.

On February 9, 2021, Magamadov was charged with “aiding and abetting an illegal armed group" (Art. 33-5/Art. 208-2 RCC).

Magamadov was later placed in pre-trial facility SIZO-2 in Grozny.

On March 23, 2021, Chechen authorities arbitrarily detained 20 of Magamadov's relatives in search of Magamadov's parents who fled Chechnya to escape official harassment and pressure to kill their children.

On February 22, 2022,  the Achkhoi-Martanovsky District Court of Chechnya sentenced Magamadov to eight years in prison for “aiding and abetting an illegal armed group" (Art. 33-5/Art. 208-2 RCC).

On October 25, 2022, the Fifth Cassation Court in Pyatigorsk upheld Magamadov's sentence. 

Related Cases: Ismail Isaev