Lawyer: Russian Investigative Committee refused to investigate Vedzhie Kashka’s death

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation refused to initiate two criminal cases on the Crimean Tatar movement veteran-activist Vedzhie Kashka’s death.

The Russian lawyer Nikolay Polozov wrote on Facebook.

«At the end of January 2018, the Kiev district IC  senior investigator (the Investigation Committee – “15 minutes”) in Simferopol, Major of Justice N. Balashova decerned to refuse two criminal cases initiation on Vedzhie Kashka’s death», Polozov wrote.

The first criminal case initiation according to articles on intended murder, infliction of death by negligence, intended bodily harm caused the victim’s death was denied because of the absence of criminal act.

The second criminal case initiation on articles on abusing and exceeding official powers by the Ministry of Internal Affairs employees, who participated in Vedzhie Kashka’s detention, was refused to initiate because of the absence of elements of crime in the acts of indicated persons.

Nikolay Polozov added that, according to the expert’s conclusion, Vedzhie Kashka’s death appeared as a result of atherosclerotic heart disease. However, relatives are sure that Vedzhie Kashka’s death is not an accident, but a consequence of the Russian security officers’ oppression. By the way, a woman had no heart problems.

«Vedzhie Kashka’s relatives and friends are convinced that she died not because of a heart disease, as she had never complained about it and several months before her death she was treated in Turkey, where the doctors did not conclude any heart problems», added the lawyer.

Polozov intends to appeal the refusal to initiate criminal proceedings.

«It is no secret that in the Russian law enforcement practice, any officials’ involvement is hindered by the systemic resistance on the part of the state. It often takes a long time before the security officer, who committed the crime, turns out to appear in the dock. The mere fact in Vedzhie Kashka’s case of refusing to initiate the criminal proceedings has already shown a similar tendency», he added.

As to the website «15 minutes», Nikolay Polozov began an independent legal investigation on the circumstances of the Crimean Tatar movement veteran’s death, Vedzhie Kashka.