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Russia Investigates Kidnappings of Chechen Rebel Leader Maskhadov's Relatives Created: 31.01.2005 16:57 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 16:57 MSK, 1 hour 20 minutes ago MosNews Russian law enforcers have instigated three criminal cases into allegations that relatives of Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov were kidnapped, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Monday. The agency cited the head of the Operative Headquarters of the Counter-Terrorist Operation in the North Caucasus, Lieutenant-General Arkady Yedelev as saying that law enforcers were notified by the relatives of the abducted people in January and immediately started investigation into these cases. The Russian general told the press that representatives of the federal forces and law enforcement bodies were taking part in the kidnapping of Chechen residents along with ordinary gangsters. "We have proof of complicity of all three parties in these crimes," Yedelev said. The general said that according to his information, prosecutors have launched three criminal cases against three commanders in the federal forces in connection with the kidnapping of Maskhadov's relatives. Earlier in January, Russian human rights group Memorial said that eight elderly relatives of the Chechen separatist leader were abducted in December by republican security forces, commanded by the pro-Moscow deputy prime minister of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. Memorial activists said they had met people who witnessed the abductions. According to their accounts, Aslan Maskhadov's sister Buchu Abdulkadyrova, 67, was detained in Grozny and taken away by local security officers on Dec. 3, 2004. On the same day unidentified gunmen, allegedly reporting to Ramzan Kadyrov, kidnapped Maskhadov's brother Lecha, 68. Adam Rashiyev, a distant relative of the separatist leader, disappeared on the same evening in Grozny. Also, on Dec. 3 Lema Maskhadov, 55, was kidnapped from his home in Grozny. Before taking him away, security officers searched his apartment without producing a warrant. Maskhadov's nephew Ikhvan Magomedov, 35, was abducted from his house near Grozny. On Dec. 28 Maskhadov's niece Khadizhat Satuyeva and two sons-in-law Usman and Satuyev Movladi were kidnapped. Rights activists said that relatives of the abducted people did not file any official complaints to republican law enforcement authorities. The whereabouts of all the victims is still unknown, though according to some reports, they are being held at a remand prison in Tsentoroi, Kadyrovs' native village in the Gudermes disrict of the republic. There, witnesses claim, an illegal prison was established where Ramzan Kadyrov's gunmen keep their detainees. 2005-01-31 21:03 Criminal case opened on Maskhadov relatives' kidnapping GROZNY, January 31 (RIA Novosti) - A criminal case has been initiated on the kidnapping of relatives of Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, said the Regional Operative Staff for the North Counterterrorist Operation [ROSh] in the North Caucasus. According to the staff, on January 26 the regional police branch office got an application from Aslan Maskhadov brother's wife Kameta Maskhadova, residing in Pervomaiskoe, the Grozny district. "It says that on December 3, 2004 unidentified camouflaged persons with automatic weapons and speaking the Chechen language forcibly drove her husband Lema Maskhadov, 56, from his house in an unknown direction," the interviewee said. On the same day, at about 20:00, Moscow time, a group of 10 to 15 unidentified and camouflaged persons, also speaking Chechen and having automatic weapons, abducted Aslan's another brother, Lecha Maskhadov, 68, from house 16 on Sovkhoznaya street in Grozny, he went on to say. Then, at 11:20, Moscow time, on December 28, 2004, up to 15 unidentified camouflaged persons with automatic weapons and speaking the Chechen language forcibly drove in an unknown direction Aslan's nephew Movladi Maskhadov, 34, from a place near the Neftyanik market in Grozny. "On these facts, the Prosecutor's Office of Grozny's Staropromyslovsky district has initiated the criminal case. Investigation is underway to establish the location of the abducted persons and detain those involved in the crime," the Regional Operative Staff said. eng.kavkaz.memo.ru Caucasian Knot 28/1/2005 European Court declares IDP's application admissible The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has declared admissible an application lodged by an internally displaced person (IDP) from Chechnya living on the territory of Stavropol Region. The regional migration service deprived him of official IDP status a year ago, when he submitted an application to be entered in a composite list of IDPS who needed accommodation. Almost 80 thousand IDPs have been registered in Stavropol Region since July 1992. As of today, altogether 7,145 people have official status, which gives them a right to get government support. Author: Svetlana Biryukova, CK correspondent Local man abducted in Chechnya CHECHNYA, January 31, Caucasus Times - Unidentified gunmen abducted on January 28 Anvar Kerichkayev, local man, Caucasus Times correspondent reports citing the Groznyy office of human rights Memorial Center. The abductors informed Mr. Kerichkayv's relatives that they would take the man to Groznensky district police station but, according to his kinsmen, he was not found there. Still Mr. Kerichkayev's whereabouts are not known. In the first half of January this year, there are over 30 people reported abducted in Chechnya, Caucasus Times quoted a worker of Memorial Center as saying. Ruslanbek Dudayev, Groznyy, Caucasus Times Chechen Human Rights Lawyer Still Missing Vienna, 1 February 2004.  Makhmut Magomadov after 20 January 2005 was reported missing. There has been no information about his fate, despite recent inaccurate assertions by the law-enforcement about his release. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights has raised this issue again to the Prosecutor of the Chechen Republic, Vladimir Kravchenko, in the attached letter. For further information: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights In Vienna: Aaron Rhodes, IHF Executive Director, +43 – 1 – 408 88 22 or +43 - 676 – 635 66 12; Henriette Schroeder, IHF Press Officer, +43 – 676 – 725 48 29, in Moscow: Tanya Lokshina, +7-916-624 1906 Chechen Committee for National Salvation, Ruslan Badalov, Chair, +7-873-22 24 00 All-Russia Movement ‘For Human Rights’, Lev Ponomarev, Executive Director, +7-095-291 62 33 *************************** To:  Vladimir Pavlovich Kravchenko, Prosecutor of the Republic of Chechnya, RF, Via facsimile + 7 (8712) 22 31 44 , + 7 (095) 777 92 26 Copy: Vladimir Ustinov, Prosecutor General of the RF, Via facsimile +7(095) 921-41-86 Vladimir Lukin, Ombudsman of the RF, Via facsimile +7(095) 207-76-30 Ella Pamfilova, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the RF, Via facsimile  +7 (095) 206-48-55 Open Letter Vienna, 1 February 2005 Dear Mr. Prosecutor, I am writing once again on behalf of the IHF (write out) concerning the fate of human rights lawyer Makhmut Magomadov. As you know, we have addressed you one this issue on 21 January 2005. I am attaching a copy of that letter. To date, no reliable information has been available about this case, despite the attention of the international community. Last week, a police official the family that Magomadov had been released. But this was immediately disclaimed by the prosecutor's office. His fate remains unknown. The longer this situation persists, the more likely it is that he is suffering torture or has in fact been murdered. We are appealing to you, to locate Magomadov and secure his release without further delay. We thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Aaron Rhodes (Executive Director) cc OSCE Delegations Council of Europe Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights National Helsinki Committees ************************************************ To:  Vladimir Pavlovich Kravchenko Prosecutor of the Republic of Chechnya, RF; Via facsimile + 7 (8712) 22 31 44 , + 7 (095) 777 92 26 Copy: Vladimir Ustinov, Prosecutor General of the RF ; Via facsimile +7(095) 921-41-86 Vladimir Lukin, Ombudsman of the RF; Via facsimile +7(095) 207-76-30 Ella Pamfilova, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the RF; Via facsimile  +7 (095) 206-48-55 Open Letter Abduction of Human Rights Lawyer Makhmut Magomadov Vienna, 21 January 2005 Dear Prosecutor, I am writing on behalf of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) regarding the abduction of Makhmut Magomadov (born 1954) on 20 January 2005 in Grozny, Staropromsylovsky district, conducted by a group of camouflaged armed men, who were allegedly members of the presidential security service of Chechnya. Details: On 20 January 2005, at around 18:30, well-known human rights lawyer, former deputy prosecutor, Makhmut Dzhaparovich Magomadov (born 1954, presently living in Grozny) was abducted by a group of men in the Staropromyslovsky Raion of Grozny. He and his family (wife and two children) were visiting a friend, when they were approached by a group of Chechen-speaking armed men in combat fatigues, who grabbed Magomadov, and drove away in the direction of the city center. His wife and other witnesses believe that the men belonged to the presidential security service, the so-called Kadyrovtsy, under the command of Chechen deputy prime-minister Ramzan Kadyrov. It seems Magomadov was taken to an unofficial detention center like the one in Tsenteroi. According to his wife, Albika Shabazova, they were on their way to see a friend, Abubakar Amirov, after they had fulfilled a ceremony of sacrifice – it was the Muslim feast Kurbam Bayram – when they noticed that a car was following them (a steel color VAZ-2110). They arrived at Amirov’s house, and Magomadov and his 4-year old daughter Iman went up to the second floor to bring him a share of the meat of the sacrificed animal. His wife Albika and their six-month old son Arbalo remained in the car. At this moment a few cars approached them. Among them was a steel-colour VAZ-2110 (number 863), a white VAZ-2107 (with number 008, region code 95), a white Gazel-31029 and a wine-red colour VAZ–21099. A group of unknown Chechen-speaking persons in combat fatigues but without masks, armed with automatic and other weapons jumped out of the cars. Albika was asked where the owner of the car was. She answered, that it is her husband’s car and that he had entered the house to give some meat to their friend. She asked repeatedly what was going on, to which she was told that they “had some scores to settle”. The armed group surrounded the house and within a few minutes took Magomadov out of the house and forcibly sat him in the Gazel-31029. His little daughter, who clinged to her father, the assailants simply threw to the ground. Albika, carrying their 6 months old son, tried to intervene, but was roughly pushed aside. The cars then drove away in the direction of the city centre. Magomadov’s wife and other eyewitnesses of the incident assume that the abduction was conducted by so-called “Kadyrovtsy” and that Magomadov was most likely taken to one of their illegal “prisons”. About Makhmut Magomadov Makhmut Magomadov (born 1954), is a well-known legal expert for the Chechen Committee of National Salvation, the Northern Caucasus affiliate of the All-Russia Movement For Human Rights headed by Lev Ponomaryov. Until December 2004, he worked as an expert for the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. Magomadov closely cooperates with the “Center for International Human Rights Defense” (headed by Karinna Moskalenko). He is involved in preparing cases to be brought to the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, among others the one related to the 21 October 1999 shelling of the Grozny Market, during which scores of people were killed. After a long career with the police in Donskoy, Tula Oblast, from 1992 Magomadov worked as an investigator for the Chechen Ministry of Interior, and then for the Prokuratura (Prosecutor’s Office). From 1994 to 1996 he worked in the Office of the Public Prosecutor of the Interim Administration of Chechnya. He subsequently worked as Assistant Prosecutor General for crime investigations. He was also the head of an Investigations and Operations Task Force to fight kidnappings. His team was instrumental in freeing hundreds of kidnapped persons. Magomadov was not involved in politics and did not participate in the armed conflict. After retiring from law enforcement, he undertook human rights-related work. Through this new career, Magomadov has won many friends, both in Russia and abroad, among his colleagues with his collegial manner and tireless approach to the difficult and dangerous work of representing the victims of grave human rights violations in Chechnya. ****** We urge you to conduct a thorough investigation on the abduction of Makhmut Magomadov. If the men who detained him were acting in an official capacity, we call on the authorities immediately to make known the reasons for his detention and inform his family of his fate and whereabouts. Further, the Russian authorities should either charge him with a recognizable offence or release him immediately. We kindly ask you to inform us about the process of this case. Sincerely, Aaron Rhodes (Executive Director) cc OSCE Delegations Council of Europe Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights National Helsinki Committees __________________________________________ Joachim Frank, Project Coordinator International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights Wickenburggasse 14/7 A-1080 Vienna Tel. +43-1-408 88 22 ext. 22 Fax: +43-1-408 88 22 ext. 50 Web: http://www.ihf-hr.org ______________________________________ Feb 1 2005 10:48AM Chechen govt to intensify efforts to stop abductions GROZNY. Feb 1 (Interfax) - The Chechen leadership is determined to put a halt to abductions, First Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov told Interfax on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, there are no objective reasons that could explain or justify this shameful phenomenon, which was brought to life by illegal armed formations in the 1990s," he said. Kadyrov said that statistics of abductions conceal the tragedies of hundreds of families that are unable to learn anything about their missing relatives. "One will be able to say that order has been restored only after the phenomenon itself is eradicated, torn out as a sore tooth. We are determined to stop detentions without charges, without notification of relatives about the places of confinement," Kadyrov said.