On March 15, 2003, Imran Ezhiev, a famous human rights defender, the head of the Chechen Department of ORCHD (Russian-Chechen Friendship Association) was kidnapped in Chechnya.

At 7 p.m. on March 15, Imran Ezhiev with his ORCHD colleague Zaur Kharipov were driving from the Chechen town Shali to Sergen’-Yurt, the native village of Imran. Two automobiles approached, pushed Imran’s car to the roadbed, armed people in masks got out, checked Imran’s ID, forced him into their car and ‘disappeared’.

Imran Ezhiev, the regional coordinator of Moscow Helsinki Group, the head of the Chechen department of Russian-Chechen Friendship Association was a distinguished public figure in Chechnya. Imran repeatedly and openly criticized the authorities for their policies in the Chechen Republic; representatives of the federal forces in Chechnya already threatened him detained him several times under various doubtful pretexts.

Before the kidnapping Imran worked in Shali area and collected data for the Helsinki Group annual report on the situation in Chechnya. Almost daily he transmitted ‘hot news’ to Moscow by phone.

There is no doubt that the kidnapping of Imran Ezhiev is directly linked to his professional activity. Usually political kidnappings in Chechnya have a tragic end. If we do not interfere TODAY, tomorrow will be too late.

We appeal to human rights organizations and state institutions in Russia and abroad: Save Imran Ezhiev!

Stop disappearances in Chechnya!

To help Imran, please, phone or fax with inquiries about his case to the following state institutions in Russia:

• The Office of Mr. Abdulhakim Ahmedovich Sultygov (in Moskow), a Special Representative of the President of Russian Federation on Human Rights Affairs in the Chechen Republic: fax - + 7 (095) 206 94 10

• The Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Sergei Vladlenovich Yastrezhembsky: fax - +7 (095) 206 91 93

• The Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Vasilevich Ustinov: fax - + 7 (095) 921 41 86

• The Prosecutor of the Chechen Republic Mr. Vladimir Pavlovich Kravchenko: fax - + 7 (8712) 22 31 44 , fax - + 7 (095) 777 92 26

• The State Duma Deputy from the Chechen Republic Mr. Aslanbek Ahmedovich Aslakhanov: fax - + 7 (095) 292 02 04