On December 27, Georgian authorities sentenced Mahomed Mahaev to three months preliminary imprisonment on suspicion of al-Qaeda-membership. Mahaev is a Chechen refugee and founder of the humanitarian organisation Imedi (‘Hope’) that assists Chechen refugees. Local members of the Human Rights House Network are worried about the serious risk of extradition and torture. (12-JAN-06)
The Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre in Georgia, HRHs local partner, informs that Mr. Mahaev is accused of falsification of documents, abuse of duties and stealing money. His lawyer Davit Managadze upholds: “The investigation is biased, they do not take all existing evidence into consideration. There is no reason for Mahaev’s imprisonment; the statement of the investigation that Mahaev may leave the country is unreasonable, as his passport was taken away.” The Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre (HRIDC) therefore demands the immediate release of Mahaev.
Imedi has been under investigation since July 2005. Apart from alleged membership of al-Qaeda Imedi Mr. Makhaev established and registered Imedi in April 2003 as an organisation assisting Chechen refugees in Georgia and providing them with humanitarian aid. The organisation has in particular been operating in the Pankisi Gorge, on Georgia’s border with the Chechen Republic. He was assisting by sending food and wood to them, financially supporting orphans and was covering their medical insurance. As a result of Mahaev’s imprisonment all humanitarian activities unfolded by Imedi in the Pankisi Gorge are stopped.
HRIDC demands that any allegations about any connection between Imedi and al-Qaeda must be withdrawn as it puts Mr Mahaev in danger. The human rights organisation also asks for an alternative provisional measure than that of pre-trial detention and declares that there is no threat that Mahaev will hide from investigation.
Via the ‘World Organisation against torture’ (OMCT), letters are sent to the Georgian authorities in order to safeguard Mahaev’s rights during his imprisonment. This letter can be downloaded here
