| Jul 16 2004 9:51AM Lawyer abducted in Chechnya GROZNY. July 16 (Interfax) - Lawyer Taus Usmanov has been abducted in Grozny. The Guild of Chechen Lawyers told Interfax on Friday that unidentified people armed with automatic weapons had entered Usmanov's apartment in Mayakovsky neighborhood in Grozny's Staropromyslovsky district last night and took him away under threat of physical violence. Despite a special operation launched by Chechen police, they have not been able to determine Usmanov's whereabouts so far. Meanwhile, Chechen Security Council Secretary Rudnik Dudayev told Interfax that 213 people, including 17 women, were abducted in Chechnya in the first half of 2004. He also said 68 people, including 23 women, went missing in that period. 16.7.2004 Village Administrative Leaders Kidnapped CHECHNYA, Grozny. (SNO Information Centre). On the night of 15 July, in Grozny’s Staropromislov District, unidentified armed personnel in masks and camouflage uniforms kidnapped Salam Khasikhanov, the deputy administrative head of the village of Gekhi in the Urus Martan District. Together with Khasikhanov, the attackers abducted an acquaintance of his who was visiting him in his apartment at the time. The reason for the kidnappings is not known and the identity of the kidnappers has not been established. The night before, on 14 July, Lechi Isaldebirov, administrative head of the village of Buti in the Shalin District, was kidnapped by unidentified individuals in masks and camouflage. His fate and whereabouts are also unknown. Translated by Sue-Ann Harding PRIMA News Agency [2004-07-15-Chech-12] UN says foreign staff still unable to return to Russian republic of Ingushetia 16 July 2004 ? United Nations international staff have still not returned to the Russian Federation republic of Ingushetia, almost a month after a night of deadly fighting there, because local authorities say they do not have enough armed guards to guarantee their safety. Briefing reporters today in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR ) spokesman Ron Redmond said only local UN workers and international staff from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have resumed working in Ingushetia. He said UNHCR had planned to return its international staff ? which were relocated within the Russian Federation after the violence on 21 June ? on Wednesday, but the move fell through when guards were not available. UN staff are anxious to return to help an estimated 50,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) from Ingushetia and the neighbouring Russian republic of Chechnya living in temporary settlements or private accommodation. In the wake of the fighting between Russian Government forces and rebels on 21 June, many IDPs living in temporary settlements have received hostile treatment from the local Ingush population, Mr. Redmond said. Many landowners have also pressured the IDPs to return home. One temporary settlement has been closed and local officials have threatened to evict IDPs from other settlements. Mr. Redmond said that while there had been ?a strong response? by security services following 21 June, all but five of the 50 or so IDPs who were detained have since been released. He said UNHCR has raised its concerns about the evictions, detentions and other problems involving the settlements with authorities in Moscow, but stressed how important it was for all staff to be able to return. Magomed Getagazov, a local UN staff member, died after he was hit by crossfire during the fighting on 21 June. His death prompted a UN security review for staff working in the northern Caucasus region. |