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Second Arson Suspect Alleges Tatarstan Police Torture


CHALLY, Russia -- A second suspect in November arson attacks against two Orthodox churches in Tatarstan has alleged police torture.

Ruslan Garifullin, the lawyer for Mikhail Martyanov, told RFE/RL that his client told him that police had tortured him with electric shocks in an effort to make him confess to the crimes.

Garifullin said he has not been able to meet with his client since December 18.

Last month, the parents of another suspect in the same arson attacks, Rafail Zaripov, told RFE/RL that their son had been hospitalized with a severe spinal injury, bruises on his body, and blood in his urine.

They accused investigators of beating their son and torturing him with electric shocks.

Tatarstan's Interior Ministry announced in December that five men had confessed to the attacks.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

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