Human rights people meet with the Chechen refugees in Ingushetia

On January 15, 2004 representatives of the Ingush branch of the Society for the Russian-Chechen Friendship visited "Bart", "Promzhilbaza", "Karyer" camp settlements situated in Karabulak town of Ingushetia. The aim of the visit of the human rights people was to meet with forced migrants from Chechnya and to find their attitude to last visits and statements of Chechen high-ranking officials.

It turned out that the inhabitants of the above-mentioned settlements have got neither hopes that their situation will improve nor confidence in the authoritative bodies of the republic. Rosa Temurkaeva (born in 1960), an inhabitant of the "Karyer" settlement, told that none of the forced migrants believed statements made by the Chechen officials, "because they won't do more than they have done for the last four years".

A woman living in "Bart" refugee camp told to the human rights people that refugees' tents were an eyesore to the Chechen and federal authorities especially when the elections of the president of the Russian Federation are approaching.

On the whole, refugees have a negative attitude towards plans of the Chechen governing body and the federal government to force them to return to their homeland.

[19.01.2004 15:05] The Society for the Russian-Chechen Friendship

An assault at residents of Tangui-Tchu village

On January 13, 2004 residents of Tangui-Tchu village, Urus-Martan district of the Chechen Republic, were assaulted by representatives of the federal forces. All that night long the Russian military men were bursting into the houses, robbing, beating people up and scoffing at them. For instance, a teacher, Alismat Jamaldinova by name, lost all her savings and most part of her belongings as a result of the assault at her house. Threatening with weapon, the military seized several people, whose names were not reported. All of them were set free at dawn after the interference of the Chechen police.

[19.01.2004 11:48] The Society for the Russian-Chechen Friendship



An abduction of a person in Ordjonikidsevskaya settlement

On January 15, 2004 unidentified people abducted a resident of Ordjonikidsevskaya settlement, Adam by name (born in 1971), on his way home, the Society for the Russian-Chechen Friendship reports. His relatives asked not to reveal his surname but it is known to the staff of the Information Center at the Society for the Russian-Chechen Friendship. According to some eye-witnesses, the abductors drove up to him in a silvery "VAZ 21099" car without any number plate with darkened windows. They forced Adam into the car and drove away in an unknown direction.

According to the wife of the abducted person, her husband hasn't been involved into any criminal business. She isn't aware of possible reasons for his detention. Adam's wife also told that he was the breadwinner for his family. She added that her husband had borrowed some money from acquaintances of his a week ago to set up a small shop at the market. There has been no information about the whereabouts of the missing person so far.

[19.01.2004 19:03] The Chechen Times



The Chechen Times

Missing people's relatives turn to human rights people for help again

On January 16, 2004 Taus Osmaeva turned to the Ingush office of theSociety for the Russian-Chechen Friendship with the request to assisther in the search for her husband Khamzat Osmaev. The Osmaevs are forcedmigrants from Chechnya and they have been living in Ingushetia in 15Kolkhoznaya Street, Troitskaya settlement, Sunzha district.

Taus Osmaeva's appeal addressed to the chairperson of the regionaldepartment of the SRCF Imran Ezhiev follows.

"What happened to my husband, Osmaev Khamzat (born in 1954) isabsolutely unprecedented.

On January 12, 2004 after 5 pm he was forced into a white "Gazel" carwithout a state number plate by unidentified masked people. Thus he musthave been abducted. This conclusion suggests itself as thelaw-enforcement bodies couldn't explain what had happened. They can'texplain the fact that armed people could drive in their car without anynumber plate whenever they wanted and escape any punishment. Everyoneknows that it is necessary to go through several road police stations onthe way into and out of this settlement. The situation is so absurd thatbecomes non-analyzable.

Khamzat is a respected, law-abiding, and a respectable citizen. Being afather of five children and a grandfather of two grandchildren, he triedto set an example not only for his family. He devoted all his life tosport. He was a coach for many years and brought up many sportsmen.

My husband has been rehabilitating sportsmen after different traumasrecently. He has been given massages to them. He received his patientsat home. But he did his best to help people in need and if they asked hewent to cure them to their homes.

Although he was the only breadwinner for our family, he helped manypeople in a disinterested way no matter what nationality they were andwhat part of a day it was. He burdened himself with variety of dutiesalthough his heart was diseased. Many people knew him as a healer andprayed for him to get better and to lengthen his life.

What has happened to him!? Is it possible that people won't help us tosettle this dreadful misunderstanding?”

With the sincere hope for help,The Osmaevs family