Russian law enforcement agencies detained and brutally beat social media activist Bakhtiyor Giyoev. Photo: Internet 40-year-old Bakhtiyor Giyoev is known for his participation in opposition online programs. He is a native of the Khatlon region and obtained Russian citizenship two years ago. In an interview with Azda TV, Giyoev reported that despite being a citizen […]
Russian law enforcement agencies detained and brutally beat social media activist Bakhtiyor Giyoev.
Photo: Internet40-year-old Bakhtiyor Giyoev is known for his participation in opposition online programs. He is a native of the Khatlon region and obtained Russian citizenship two years ago.
In an interview with Azda TV, Giyoev reported that despite being a citizen of the country, he was detained by the police in St. Petersburg and brutally beaten while returning from work.
According to Bakhtiyor, while waiting for public transport at a bus stop, police officers approached him and demanded to see his documents. After checking his documents, they asked him to go with them to the station.
“When I asked them: ‘Why should I go with you?’ one of the police officers said: ‘Are you still going to ask questions?’ and punched me in the face. I fell to the ground, and he started beating me as soon as I fell,” the activist stated.
Bakhtiyor claims that after being beaten on the street, he was put in a car and taken to police station No. 57 in the Vyborgsky district of St. Petersburg, where he was also beaten on the way to the station.
There are signs of torture and beatings on Giyoev’s face. He reported that he was held at the police station for two days, during which five or six police officers subjected him to torture and humiliation.
After being released from the police station, he went to a doctor and underwent a medical examination. The results of the medical examination showed that he had a broken nose, and there were signs of injuries, redness, and bruises on his body.
Bakhtiyor said that he sought help from lawyers to file a lawsuit and complain about the police for illegal detention, torture, and beatings, but no one was willing to defend his rights.
Bakhtiyor Giyoev told Azda TV that he was likely beaten on the orders of Tajik authorities to intimidate him, as he has recently spoken openly and fearlessly on social media against the Rahmon regime and the injustices of the Tajik authorities.