Lawyers denounce refusal to investigate Emkuzhev kidnapping as unlawful

Lawyers Criticize Decision Over Emkuzhev Kidnapping Case

Lawyers have called unlawful the investigator’s refusal to open a criminal case into the abduction of Nalchik resident Kazbek Emkuzhev. The official decision justified the refusal by stating that the kidnappers’ faces were not visible on surveillance footage, making it impossible to establish their identities.

Background of the Case

Kazbek Emkuzhev disappeared in Nalchik after being forced into a vehicle by unknown men in civilian clothes. Witnesses reported that the abductors did not identify themselves as law enforcement officers. Family members quickly filed a complaint, demanding an investigation into what they described as a clear kidnapping.

Legal Expert Remarks

Attorneys representing the family criticized the investigator’s decision, calling it a violation of procedural law.

“The absence of visual identification cannot serve as grounds to refuse the initiation of a case involving violent abduction,” said one legal expert.

The lawyers emphasized that investigators were required to verify other types of evidence — such as vehicle traces and phone records — before dismissing the complaint.

Human Rights Concerns

Human rights defenders in Kabardino-Balkaria also expressed concern over what they view as a recurring problem: the reluctance of law enforcement bodies to investigate cases involving potential abductions by security officials. They warned that this undermines public trust in the justice system.

Official Silence

Authorities have not issued a detailed comment regarding the Emkuzhev case. Relatives continue to search for information about his whereabouts and intend to appeal the refusal to initiate the criminal case.

“The investigation must be reopened, and the family deserves a transparent response,” said a representative of a local rights group.

Author’s summary: Lawyers and human rights activists condemned the refusal to investigate Kazbek Emkuzhev’s abduction, calling the decision unlawful and urging authorities to reopen the case.

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Caucasian Knot Caucasian Knot — 2025-11-29

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