Yangulbayev: "If they cut off my head, they've to do it with dignity, but not shooting in the back"

The text of the interview was published by Republic *.

At the beginning of the conversation, the journalists asked about the well-being of Yangulbayev, who had been unwell lately.

“I got infected with omicron when I was leaving Russia, apparently at the airport or on the road. It was hard, but now it’s much easier, although with the psychological state it’s the other way around - the spouse is imprisoned for nothing, they don’t let anyone in, it’s chaos. The whole world knows about it, but the Kremlin is silent”, - the former federal judge replied.

He also noted that in 2017 he appealed to the president because of the persecution of his youngest son Ibragim on charges of extremism, but in the Kremlin, Yangulbayev’s appeal was sent to Chechnya, where the application was considered by those people against whom the judge complained. He also recalled that he and his sons were taken to Kadyrov's residence in November 2015, where they were beaten and forced to sign a letter of resignation. The panel of judges considered the application on the day of the appeal, contrary to the existing procedure.

The persecution of the family of the ex-judge did not stop there, and in 2017 his son was taken away for the second time. After writing statements to federal authorities and human rights activists, Yangulbayev left Chechnya.

“I thought it would be easier in the central part of Russia, but now they have gone in the third circle”, - said the former judge.

When asked about appealing the court's decision to terminate the resignation, he replied that he intended to challenge the verdict of the collegium, adopted in violation of all existing protocols. The lawyer of the former judge will send an appeal for review to the highest qualification board of judges of the Russian Federation.

“If they work there according to the law, then they will immediately cancel the decision to terminate the resignation. I really sympathize with my former colleagues, I do not envy them. I called them: why are you collecting sins, making custom cases, why don’t you leave, ”he commented.

Yangulbayev also answered questions about his family's "curse rally", noting that he had observed the events. In his opinion, people were herded into the streets according to a proven scheme on a voluntary-compulsory basis, without warning some of them about the purpose of the gathering. He also added that now he communicates only with human rights activists, and did not get in touch with the diaspora at the place of stay.

He called the public renunciation of his relatives a "performance", noting that the Kadyrovites brought the relatives to tears, forcing them to make such a statement.

Yangulbayev believes that the statement of the deputy of the State Duma Adam Delimkhanov of "hatred and vendetta" with the promise to cut the head is a red herring. Thus, the Chechen security forces want to divert attention from other issues, the main of which is the abduction of Zarema Musayeva. The former judge claims that he called the FSB in Nizhny Novgorod dozens of times and turned to the FSB on the day of his wife's abduction, but all to no avail.

“No one helped us, but I thought that at least such a serious organization as the FSB would help, but they only played the fool, they said “we’ll come soon”, - he said.

In the end, no one came. Yangulbayev said that during the last call to law enforcement officers, he said the following phrase: “Thank you very much, my wife was kidnapped, thank you for taking part in this”, - after which he put the receiver down.

Speaking about the way out of the situation, Yangulbayev said that international human rights activists and journalists are helping him, and the ECHR has obliged Russia to respond by February 7.

“But only Putin can rein in Kadyrov, who does not accept criticism and some kind of dissent”, - said the fugitive judge.

During the conversation, he stated that he really wanted to return to Russia, and advocated that the “Russian Ivans” be at the head of the republic.

“After all, I was appointed a judge by decree of the President of Russia. On a competitive basis, he won against eight worthy people. Why now, when the whole world is talking about it, Putin is silent? Why doesn't he check, doesn't get into the situation? He is, after all, the guarantor of the Constitution. I am very offended by him. But nothing, I have lived my life, and if they cut off my head, I will go to heaven, and those who do this will go to hell. Everything is the will of Allah, and if they come to cut off the heads, let them do it with dignity, face to face, and not shooting in the back, as they already did”, - Yangulbayev said at the end of the conversation.

* - entered by the Ministry of Justice in the register of media-foreign agents.