Russia: Rights Defender Sentenced to Four-Year Prison Term

Update: After a reading of the verdict that took 9 hours, the judge in the Shali District Court convicted Oyub Titiev and sentenced him to 4 years in penal colony settlement. His lawyers have said they will appeal. “The guilty verdict against Oyub Titiev is gross injustice to him, a disgrace to Russian criminal justice system, and a further sign that Ramzan Kadyrov, the governor of Chechnya, will be emboldened to silence reporting on human rights abuses,” said Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.“Titiev should be freed immediately.” (Moscow) – A Chechen…

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