| Neng.kavkaz.memo.ru Caucasian Knot
13/10/2005 Nalchik 'caused by war in Chechnya' "The tragedy in Nalchik has become possible because the government has provided all conditions for it. A group of armed people first put up military action in Nazran, then in Beslan, and now in Kabardino-Balkaria — this is the result of political games, playing so-called elections or referendums in Chechnya. All this is complete falsification, which embitters people and prompts them such steps," Ruslan Badalov, head of the regional public movement Chechen Committee for National Salvation, told Caucasian Knot's correspondent earlier today. "The effect of the Chechen war echoes in all North Caucasus regions. Under way is implementation of policy of intimidation of the population — all special operations and clean-ups, not only in Chechnya, are aimed exactly at intimidation. Nothing will change until the Chechnya problem is solved in a way different from how it is being solved currently. In the human rights defender's view, "If abductions and killings of local residents first of all occur in the North Caucasus, war can come to all Russian regions, although even now Russia lives in conditions of war." "We, human rights defenders, have been saying for six years already that violence only gives rise to violence. The war has continued for so long, but no end of it can be expected. A huge force, special services have not been able to do anything for all this time," thinks Mr Badalov. "And the war will not be over — terrorist acts will thunder across Russia!" "They (special services — CK) cannot work in uninhabited places. They only say that gunmen use the local population as a human shield, but they act worse then gunmen when special operations are conducted in Nalchik, for example. They should ambush and destroy at the approach, but they can't, don't want to," says the human rights defender. "Another reason for the tragedies is downright corruption in law enforcement and security agencies, their rude attitudes towards ordinary people, boorishness of all law enforcement and security operatives, they don't treat people as people at all." "The government itself brings up enemies with its illegal, inhuman, and anti-religious actions," emphasises Mr Badalov. "Someone in Moscow benefits from the North Caucasus not being peaceful, but permanently at war. And, unfortunately, new tragic events are inevitable in such a situation." Author: Alexander Grigoriev, CK correspondent Abductions on the Rise in Chechnya — Pro-Moscow President Created: 07.10.2005 MosNews Abductions are on the rise in Chechnya, the republic's president Alu Alkhanov said on Friday. Speaking at a meeting of law enforcement officials in the republic's capital of Grozny, Alkhanov quoted by Radio Liberty said there were 143 reported cases of abduction in the first nine months of 2005, against 128 for the same period last year. Alkhanov said the increase in the number of abductions was a matter of concern for authorities. Human rights activists and witnesses say kidnappings and arbitrary arrests are in most cases carried out either by Russian federal troops or by members of pro-Russian Chechen armed forces. The Russian human rights group Memorial, which has tallied abductions in Chechnya since 1999, has accused the authorities of downplaying the number of such incidents. Akhanov, earlier the Chechen interior minister, won the presidential elections in Chechnya being supported by the Kremlin. The elections took part in August 2004, several months after the murder of the previous Chechen president, Akhmad Kadyrov. Interfax News Agency Interviews Deputy Minister of the Interior Police Colonel-General Arkadiy Yedelev September 1, 2005 (Q): Chechen kidnappings have always been in the center of attention of mass media, politicians and ombudsmen. How do you see the problem? (A): Kidnapping is a real problem. It roots in the time of lawlessness, which had been in the Republic before they began imposing constitutional order. Once inculcated in the Chechen republic, legal nihilism has been there for 14 years already. A whole generation has been brought up by mafia "laws". I would like to remind that before the counterterrorist operation started in 2000, the number of Russian nationals abducted for ransom and held in captivity had numbered thousands. This cynical "business" had brought thugs million dollars, which had been funneled including to outlawed armed groups. Officers from humanitarian non-governmental organizations and mass media specialists had been among the hostages. Once constitutional order had been imposed in the Chechen Republic, and legitimate authorities and administrative bodies, including law enforcement ones, had been reopened there, the situation changed. The number of those abducted dropped more than twofold in 2004, compared to 2003. The number of kidnappings more than halved in the first half of 2005, as compared to the same period of 2004. There were 513 such incidents in the Chechen Republic in 2003, the figure dropped to 164 in 2004 and went on to decrease to 79 in the first half of 2005. Moreover, these cases are now solved more often and much quicker. The Regional Operation HQ (ROSh) believes one of its key goals is ensuring the rule of law is paramount and promoting legal consciousness in the Republic. I assure you that this is not a short campaign but meticulous work, started to last into the future. Part of it is about giving the closest attention to fight against kidnappings. (Q): Could you enlarge on measures being introduced to stop kidnappings? (A): A multi-faceted program for "combating kidnappings and locating missing persons" has been running since 2004 with positive results. But before it was launched, every suggestion from every law enforcement and security agency, every authority and non-governmental organization in the Chechen Republic had been considered. At present, any special operation, including those that involve detaining citizens, are carried out only if approved by the directors of the Regional Operation HQ of the North Caucasus Region and with mandatory notification of the Chechen prosecutor's office, which allows to prevent illegal acts. There is a multi-office working group that operates under the auspices of the Chechen prosecutor's office and deals with kidnappings. It seats weakly, allowing to inform promptly all the agencies involved about these incidents and immediately take decisions on how to locate the abducted individuals. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that law enforcers receive great assistance from public institutes that operate in the Republic, primarily its local authorities and the elders' councils. Our standing is clear – people should be aware of activities of federal forces and militia agencies of the Republic. I would like to underscore that law enforcement agencies follow the situation closely, ignoring no missing relative report from citizens. To achieve this, representatives of the military prosecutor's office of the ministry of the interior of the Chechen Republic meet with local people at the Republic's administration's reception area and the human rights committee under the Republic's government. (Q): How would you assess the performance of the law enforcement bodies and security agencies as far as combating abductions? (A): All of the law enforcement bodies and security agencies engaged by the ROSh take orderly measures to identify individuals that kidnap people or take them hostage. Simultaneously, regulatory bodies closely watch that special operations or daily routines do not go beyond law. The aforesaid steps have allowed to change the situation in the sector for the better. As I was saying, there has been a massive downward trend in kidnappings. As for the situation, I would like to stress that about 90 percent of kidnapping cases have been filed only after the reconstruction of constitutional order began and gathered pace in 2000 – 2003. Which basically means that citizens are giving more and more credence to authorities and law enforcement bodies. And population trust is the key to successful work and is rather hard to win. But we have managed to do this; hence I have every ground to believe our performance is good. The positive role of the Regional Operation HQ and every other law enforcement agency involved in the counterterrorist operation and in upholding rights of the citizens of the Chechen Republic has been praised at an international conference, which took place on July 28-29 in Kislovodsk, the North Caucasus, and was attended by Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil-Robles, the Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation Vladimir Lukin, officers from several human rights groups, including international ones, representatives of the General Prosecutor's Office of Russian and the ROSh. But apart from the tangible positive changes, there have been an array of troublesome issues, which have yet to be addressed. Work of any party involved in hampering abductions may involve failures to provide prompt or quality information support during operations aimed at foiling illegal acts where people go missing. Another negative factor is economic problems in the Republic and high unemployment rates. This is why abductions, as serious crimes, are acquiring a lucrative, material base. The Regional Operation HQ, together with Chechen authorities and law enforcement agencies, are developing a package of measures that also involve informing the population about positive aspects of the counterterrorist operation. In doing this, they use mass media and engage popular spiritual leaders, officials and journalists. Another important goal of the Chechen government has been improving economic well being of the citizens and creating additional working places. (Q): What does the analysis of kidnapping cases reveal? (A): As for the detection rates for cases that involve missing persons, there are two clear categories of abduction (disappearance) or illegal detention cases. The first one is taking hostages with a view to receive a ransom or exchange the hostage for a gang member in custody or resolve some personal problems. The other one is so-called mock kidnappings, which are simulated to explain a lengthy stay away of an individual from their home. This trick is used extensively by militants and their families to conceal that the former are gang members. When the case, `abductions' are very spectacular and captors often wear military uniforms. Thugs often use these mock kidnappings to discredit federal forces and militia forces of the Chechen Republic. To support what I was saying, I would like to cite some figures. 67 people that were reported missing by their families in 2004-2005 were found to be accomplices to gang activities or even were found among gunmen who were arrested or eliminated after they had traded fire with federal forces and officers from the Chechen ministry of the interior. Some missing person reports are not true at all. Yet, they often trigger unfounded accusations against federal forces personnel. Thus, in 2004, many human right groups demanded that an inquiry be launched following what was believed to have been an abduction of Ms Gaitamirova from the Urus Martan area. The inquiry revealed that this had not been an abduction – the girl had just left her home, saying nothing to her parents, and had gone to live in Grozny. (Q): Could you remember real cases where purportedly "kidnapped" individuals were in fact members of armed gangs? (A): Ivan A. Ponomarenko "went missing" from the Petropavlovskoe settlement, outside Grozny, November 22, 2004. A week later, mass media covered this fact and a rally gathered in Grozny, smearing federal forces. And on April 27, 2005, Mr Ponomarenko was apprehended with weapons, ammunition and other military gear found in his possession. When under arrest, he told investigators that throughout the period when he had been considered missing he had helped a gang led by infamous Mashugov, a warlord. PRIMA News 10.10.2005 NGOs wished Putin happy birthday RUSSIA, Moscow. United Civil Front and Mi (We) democratic movement staged a show picket on 7 October in Novopushkinsky garden in Moscow, dedicated to President Vladimir Putin’s birthday. The event’s official theme stated in the application was: ‘Protest against the policies of the Russian President, their negative impact in social and economic sphere and against the ‘vertical of power’ that is being built’. During the picket, several protesters wearing prisoners’ striped hats who were chained to each other and handcuffed, walked around a man wearing Putin’s mask and chanted: "Happy birthday to you!". Then other protesters lifted up and splattered with red paint a placard with Putin’s portrait and a slogan saying: "Putin’s regime is killing our freedom. It is supported by blood, prisons, oil dollars and lawlessness. We don’t need this regime! We don’t wish to have anything to do with it!". Protesters chanted: "Freedom!", "Down with chekists’ regime!", "One, two, three — Putin, go!". They also held placards saying: "Down with the power of chekists!", "Servants! Know your place. Stop thieving!", "We won’t follow his way!", "Men in power! That’s enough lies!". Following this, Deputy Prefect of Moscow’s Central District said that chanting was not permitted at pickets. Protesters brought along banners of Mi movement and the United Civil Front. A female protester held a bottle of Putinka vodka with barbed wire wrapped around it. Some 30 people took part in the protest. Translated by Olga Sharp PRIMA-News Agency [2005-10-07-Rus-18] Chechenpress Statement by the World Chechen Congress concerning the trial of Aslan Maskhadov's associates On 10 October this year, in the capital of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, the Russian chastisers intend to conduct a so-called court trial of the associates of former President of the ChRI, Aslan Maskhadov - Vahit Murdashev, Viskhan Hajimuradov, Ilyas Iriskhanov and Andarbek Yusupov, on several usual accusations which are made against all Resistance militiamen and fighters who are opposing the forces of the evil Russian empire. They were always close to the President and did not move one step away from him. They aided Aslan Maskhadov and were active participants in all his efforts towards a curtailment of the war in long-suffering Ichkeria. But in the beginning of March 2005 they became victims of the peace plans proposed by the President of the ChRI Aslan Maskhadov to the Russian leadership, plans which received the response and support of more than 10 countries. In the entire world, even in Russia itself, the numbers of supporters of the peace plan proposed by the Chechen President were increasing, meetings and demonstrations in support of these initiatives advanced by the Chechen side where held everywhere, organized by social and political organizations in Russia and other European countries. The Kremlin terrorists, who knew that peace negotiations could take them to the defendant's bench for war crimes and genocide of the Chechen people, arranged a despicable trap for the President of the ChRI. The Russian leaders could not forgive Aslan Maskhadov for his actions, which revealed their true character. And the entire world became witnesses of the insidiousness and meanness of the Putinite concept of taking power in Russia. They saw everything: that the war in Chechnya is a result of those concepts and that, by rubbing everyone's nose in the war in Ichkeria, he choked the not yet developed democracy in Russia, almost the entire opposition, tamed the media and even the entire Russian people in general. And now we become witnesses of yet another insidious Kremlin concept. The Kremlin office wants to present the heroic death of the President of the ChRI Aslan Maskhadov to the international community as if it was an everyday event. The Kremlin inquisitors hope that Maskhadov's associates, after suffering tortures and abuses, will state in court that Aslan Maskhadov did not die by the hands of the Russian terrorists but by the hands of his companions-in-arms. We express our protest against this lawlessness and demand that the the international human rights organizations and the international community condemn the illegal actions of the Russian chastisers and interfere with this so-called court trial, in order to protect and rescue the lives and health of Vahit Murdashev, Viskhan Hajimuradov, Ilyas Iriskhanov and Andarbek Yusupov. Coordinator of the World Chechen Congress Isa Ahyadov, on 10 October, 2005. http://www.chechenpress.info/events/2005/10/10/05.shtml [Translation by N.S.] Shalinskiy district. Chechen Republic Report # 728 Residents of Avtury complain about daily bombardments and arbitrariness of “kadyrovtsy” On 8 October 2005 residents of the Avtury village of the Chechen Shali district informed the RCIA about systematical bombardment of the outskirts of the village every morning. It's two weeks since the Russian artillery started to regularly shell the mountainous and forested area in the vicinity of the village. The Russian artillery stationed in the vicinity of Shali district center shells the area. Shelling lasts usually for about 40 minutes, in an interval about 4 and 6 am. Even if the fire is concentrated at the forested area between the villages of Avtury and Serzhen-Iurt, the inhabitants are forced to take shelter in the basements. Howitzer shells go over the village. And every day the residents of the village are exposed to stresses, which lead to heart attacks and strokes. However, residents of Avtury aren't turning to for help to any official structure, since they do not believe that it may have any effect. In addition, they are intimidated by the “kadyrovtsy” (now they are a subdivision of the Anti-Terror Center at the Ministry of the Interior). A unit consisting of approximately a hundred of fighters is stationed in the village. The residents of the village consider most of them as murderers. Almost every member of this armed group was born in other districts of Chechnya. There are only two local residents among them. According to testimonies of the villagers, those people were forced to join the “kadyrovtsy”. The residents tell what “kadyrovtsy” do to exercise their power. They rob houses, approach girls with vulgar offers to spend time with their “emir” (it's what they call their commander), beat people with butts if someone dares to look discontentedly at them. It its clear why people have good reasons not to believe that there maybe someone who can this stop this tyranny. The life of the villagers, as the rest of the inhabitants of Chechnya, is currently going at the background of events connected with the celebration of Ramzan Kadyrov's birthday. He became 29 years old on 5 October. On Saturday of October 8, the local television broadcast the concert in honor of this hero of Russia. TV also broadcast some other programs that couldn't but remind the older generation about eulogizing the “father of the nation”. The chairman of the State Council Taus Dzhabrailov, senator Akhmar Zavgaev, and the millionaire Umar Dzabrailov tried to convince the television viewers that it is Ramzan Kadyrov who is leading the nation towards peace. Moreover, they stated that he is the Chechen nation's rescuer, and it is impossible to compare him with anybody. The main Chechen “edinoros” (the leader of the Chechen branch of the “United Russia” party), the State Duma deputy Ruslan Yamadaev called those who speak about confrontation between Kadyrov and the Yamadaevs brother liars. Chechens are being persuaded that Ramzan Kadyrov must remain himself. Not only the members of Kadyrov's circle are competing in glorifications of the jubilant. Representatives of the Russian joint forces do not forget to honor “the Chechen nation's son”. Generals state “arriving in Chechnya, one does not have to be born a Chechen, but your soul is obliged to become one”. Further they guarantee their support towards all the decisions taken by “the best Chechen” Ramzan Kadyrov. Due to thoughtful support from Moscow, Kadyrov has not only become the hero of Russia. His name is newly praised above the heaven, somewhere among the stars of the Sagittarius constellation. One of its stars has been called Ramzan. Can residents of Avtury village set their hopes on someone able to cope with these bandits if they hear such panegyrics to Kadyrov: I know, the city will exist I know, the garden will blossom When this kind of people In the Chechen land exists Oksana Chelysheva, Avtury village http://www.ria.hrnnov.ru/eng/index.php Achkhoy-Martan district. Chechen Republic Report # 729 Increase in frequency of arbitrary arrests in Samashky 10.10.2005. Since the beginning of October 2005 there has been a significant increase in the number of abductions and arbitrarily arrests carried out by the law enforcement bodies. The residents of the village connect the current wave of violence with a murder attempt against the chief of the local police office Aslan Sal'geriev that took place on September 26, (see our press release No.1517 from 26.09.2005). On October 8, 2005 at about 7 am the police arrested Anzor Mamaev (age 18) in his house, which is situated in “Druzhba” settlement situated with the precincts of the village in apartment house #1. He was released the following day, with no charges against him. Earlier in Samashky, force agents abducted three builders, one of them being Al'vy Zuzuev. All of them are about 20 years old. According to residents of Samashky, those three men were thrown out of cars two days after at the outskirts of Samashky after unmerciful beating. On October 2, 2005 other three young people were arbitrarily arrested. One of them was Nozhaev Khasan (born 1984), living in Vygonnaia street, #60. The mother of Nozhaev, Mariam Abuevna (born 1953) testifies that they were having tea together with her son at about 11 am, when her son's friend Adlan came. Adlan asked her son to help him stir concrete as he was reconstructing his house. Khasan agreed and they went there. All his documents were left at home. About half an hour later some cars including “Zhuguli” of a ninth model, and two “UAZ” vehicles stopped at Adlan's house. Some 60 people in camouflage burst into the yard and they grabbed the three men who were at the construction site at that time, including Khasan Nozhaev, his friend Adlan and a man whose surname is Vitaev. After a couple of days Adlan and Vitaev were released as they had their documents with them. In accordance to eyewitnesses, both of them were beaten up. They refused to tell anything about the details of their being kept in custody. Nozhaev is still under custody in the police station of the district center of Achkhoy- Martan. The relatives went to the police station and asked to explain what the reasons for his detention were. But they did not receive any answer. Nevertheless, policemen agreed to take a food packet for the detained Khasan Nozhaev. Most of his fellow-villagers are sure that the young man became a victim of circumstance having no passport on him at the time of his detention. However, the police didn't make any attempt to obtain Khasan Nozhaev's documents. His neighbors characterized Khasan as an honest person. They are sure that he has not been involved into any illegal actions. Last year he graduated from the college of economy. In September he began to study at a construction technical school that is situated in Samashky. Khasan's mother testifies that on the day somebody attempted the life Aslan Sal'geriev, her son was at home sleeping. She came home right after the explosion. Khasan was sleeping in his room. She woke him up to tell him about the explosion. Mariam Nozaev told the correspondent of the RCIA: “Stalin's time was harsh. Now it is the same. They say the war has ended. But the war is not as dangerous as what is going on now. They burst into houses. When they curse, they speak Russian but mostly they speak Chechen. And what are they?” (From our correspondent) Achkhoy-Martan district. Chechen Republic Report # 735 Chechen authorities have failed to keep their promises to the IDP who returned to Samashki last year. 11.10.2005. Samashki. The Chechen authorities have not kept their promises made to the IDPs who returned from Ingushetia to the Chechen village of Samashki. Residents of the temporary accommodation station situated there stated it in the conversation with a correspondent of the Russian-Chechen Information Agency. The temporary accommodation station in Samashki is situated in the former storehouse of the local tinned food factory. Twenty four families are residing here now. There are underage children in all the families. The minimum number of children is two. The majority of children have many children. All the people are natives of Samashki but their houses were destroyed in the armed actions that took place in the period from 1999 till 2000. IDPs from Samashki fled to Ingushetia from the war-torn Chechnya in the very beginning of the war. They lived in IDPs' camps “Satsita” and “Sputnik”. The Chechen authorities managed to persuade them to return to their native village by promising to provide them with accommodation and work. However, in winter 2004 these families were brought to the former storehouse in which the newly painted floor and walls were getting dry. The people were asked to put up with it. The residents of the TAS state that even if they can keep putting up with it with what is left of their strength but their children can't as all of them are ill. The residents of the TAS have received a thin mattress, a woven blanket and a cushion for a person for the last two years. In all the premises the air is stuffy, the walls are wet and mouldy. There is neither laundry nor showers in this TAS. The chief of the commission on human rights at the president of the Russian Federation Ella Pamfilova visited this TAS a year ago and ordered to provide its residents with all the necessary things but the situation has not changed since that. Only three families have received compensations for their destroyed houses. All the adults are unemployed. They have to earn their living either by doing agricultural labor or by collecting wild garlic in forests. People can't afford to buy either clothes or food sometimes. They receive flour, sugar and a bottle of oil for a family every month from the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Their usual meal consists of potatoes, onions and flat bread made of flour and water. The residents of this TAS don't have money to buy meat. The day before yesterday each family received two kg of meat as a donation. There are two little children in Raisa Ausheva's family. Her elder daughter Rayana is nearly three now. She has been badly coughing for three months. The girl has not been treated by doctors. A pediatrician doesn't visit the TAS to examine the children living there. Doctors in Vladikavkaz have diagnosed congenital heart disorder with the girl. However, the family doesn't have the necessary means to go to Moscow to get the girl examined by specialists there and to decide whether the operation is necessary. This summer Raisa Ausheva contracted for growing sugar-beet. The field was situated two kilometers away from the TAS. The woman had to go to the field twice a day as she has to breast-feed her two children. Raisa worked seven hours a day weeding and then harvesting sugar-beet. She collected 17 tons 200 kg of sugar-beet but she didn't receive her wage. Instead of it she received six bags of sugar that she has to sell now by herself. She hopes to buy warm clothes for her children with this money. Aushev's house is completely destroyed. Another resident of the TAS Bakaeva Galina, an ethnic Kazakh, lives in the room together with other six members of her family. The room is twelve square meters. Galina has been living in Samashki since 1978 when she came here together with her husband from Kazakhstan. Her husband, Bakaev Movla Zakrievich, was a school teacher. The woman told that he had had 26 years of teaching experience and died in a tent in “Sputnik” tent camp in Ingushetia after the stroke. Galina had to earn her living by collecting wild garlic but this year her children didn't allow her to go to a forest as this area was subjected to regular shelling. Bakaeva's family has not received the compensation for their destroyed house which used to be situated at the address 52, Vostochnaya Street. The house doesn't exist now. There is another seriously ill child in the TAS. This is a 10-year-old Isa Yakh'yaev. At present he has very high temperature and has to stay in bed. But he has serious problems with his eye-sight. One of the boy's eyes doesn't see anything. He is suffering from splitting headaches and involuntary urination. The child has not been examined by doctors. His parents tell that the boy's deceases must be caused by frequent deep stresses in the beginning of the second war campaign as he was absolutely healthy before that. All the residents of the TAS claim that the authorities managed to coax them to return to Chechnya and then they left them to the mercy of their fate. They were told that the war had ended. They were assured that they would be provided with work. Instead of it they have found themselves confronted with the reality of regular “mop-ups” and arbitrary detentions. The residents of the TAS are sure that they will be able to restore their houses if the state kept their promise to pay out their compensations for destroyed houses. They turned to the humanitarian organization “Vesta” with the request to give them prefabricated panel houses. If they had such an opportunity, they would be able to mount them on the land sites that belong to them and to live in them until they restore their houses. However, they request was turned down under the pretext that they had a roof over their heads. The residents of the TAS know that they might lose their accommodation very soon because the tinned food factory is going to get their property back by next summer. As we reported, reconstruction of the tinned food factory started on 9 October. Oksana Chelysheva http://www.ria.hrnnov.ru/eng/index.php eng.kavkaz.memo.ru Caucasian Knot 29/9/2005 Borozdinovskaia residents still missing "The investigation of the Borozdinovskaia case has not been finished yet," Maksim Toporikov, Military Prosecutor of the United Group of Troops (Forces) in the North Caucasus, told Caucasian Knot's correspondent earlier today. "Fifty various examinations are being conducted in Moscow, and the results will be ready in the near future, which is when the completion of the investigation can be discussed." "One serviceman of the Vostok ("East") battalion has been detained as part of the investigation into this case," according to Mr Toporikov. The military prosecutor emphasised that "conducting the examinations outside the republic rules out any possibility and all conjectures of fabrication of the results." A Caucasian Knot source in Chechnya's Prosecutor's Office said, "At the request of the Military Prosecutor's Office of the United Group of Troops, we have searched for the missing residents of Borozdinovskaia in temporary detention isolators in Chechnya and its neighbouring republics, but this search has not been productive. They have not been found anywhere." The source declined to comment on his words, emphasising only that he "would not like to disturb the relatives' pain. But unless a missing person is found within a few days after disappearing, it will be very problematic to find him or her later in Chechnya." Human rights defenders explain this long search for the missing people with that "they are simply not searched for." "When federal law enforcement or security agencies can be suspected of being involved in an abduction of people, these people are simply not searched for. There are some examples – eight relatives of Aslan Maskhadov were abducted last winter, and one of them was absolutely legally kept in custody in the Nozhai-Yurt district. But we did not know that, so human rights defenders were making inquiries about eight abducted people. The prosecutor's office told us that federal agencies were not involved in that. One of the missing people was then finally learnt to be legally kept exactly by 'federals.' But the prosecutor's office kept on saying that he was not kept in custody for another three days," says Alexander Cherkasov, a member of the Management Board of the Memorial Society. "They simply did not send any inquiries there. So when the involvement of federal law enforcement or security agencies is obvious, nothing is done simply." Alexander Cherkasov emphasised, "The Borozdinovskaia case became public only because of internal struggle in Chechnya between the federal government (Vostok is part of the 42nd division, i.e. they are 'federals') and the local government that wants to control everything." "Why are these 11 better than 2,500 other abducted people (this is at least how many criminal cases of abduction have been opened in Chechnya) – that was the logics of military prosecutors. They do not investigate all these cases, so why search for 11 missing residents of Borozdinovskaia?" Author: Alexander Grigoriev, CK correspondent eng.kavkaz.memo.ru Caucasian Knot 3/10/2005 People evicted from their own house Several residents of Starye Atagi, Grozny village district, applied to the Grozny office of the Russian-Chechen News Agency with a complaint about illegal actions of representatives of the Counter-terrorist Centre (the former Chechen presidential security service referred to as "Kadyrovtsy" <http://eng.kavkaz.memo.ru/analyticstext/enganalytics/id/783160.html>) who had evicted two families of relatives of Apti Idigov from his house on 30 September 2005, although they had lived there on a legal basis. According to the citizens, the Kadyrovtsy arranged their headquarters and barracks in Mr Idigov's house which is in Tsvetochnaia St, the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society reports. Russian Chechen-Frientship Information Agency reports Vedeno district. Chechen Republic Report # 744 Unauthorized search in the house of woman living in Elistanzhi On 10 October 2005 at about 2 am a group of unidentified armed men in masks burst into the house of Kameta Gakaeva, a resident of Elistanzhi village of the Chechen Vedeno district. They asked the woman in detail about her son who was out of the house at that time. They searched all the house premises thoroughly. While leaving, they threatened the woman and told they would return. A correspondent of the Russian-Chechen Information Agency reports Gakaeva as stating that she was absolutely unaware what caused the assault and the unauthorized search. According to the neighbors, some of Gakaeva's relatives were involved into activities of the Chechen armed resistance in the past. (From our correspondent) Vedeno district. Chechen Republic Report # 743 Residents of Elistanzhi village are released after their arbitrarily detention 11 October 2005. Vedeno district of the Chechen Republic. Two residents of the village, Abdulkhadjiev and Bibiev, were released from Vedeno district police office. The latter is a teacher of the secondary school situated in the village. Both men were detained in a special operation carried in the village by the police servicemen jointly with the federal military on 9 October. According to the released men, they were not maltreated but they don't know anything about reasons for their detentions. (From our correspondent) Ingushetia Report # 742 A blast in the vicinity of Gamurzievo village On 11 October 2005 at about 1.45 pm there was a mighty explosion on the federal Rostov - Baku highway in the vicinity of the village of Gamurzievo. The unidentified explosive device blasted at the moment when a column of military vehicles was passing this part of the highway. One of servicemen belonging to a movable unit at the Ministry of the Interior of Ingushetia was wounded. According to the military, he was taken to hospital where he had the bandage applied to the wound. He left the hospital after that. One of “Ural” military trucks was damaged a little. Judging by the shell-holes in the truck body, the explosive device was filled with bolts and bars. According to the conclusions made by the investigator team, the power of the explosive device was equal to 2 kg of trotyl explosive substance. The criminal case has been commenced. It's necessary to point to the fact that it's been the third explosion for the last month in this area. The place is convenient for planting explosive devices as it is bushy and there is a steep roadside. (From our correspondent) Grozny rural district. Chechen Republic Report # 741 Two residents of Prigorodnoye settlement got undermined On 10 October 2005 two young men stepped on an unidentified explosive device in the settlement of Prigorodnoye of the Chechen Grozny rural district and received mortal wounds. Both of them died on the spot. They are residents of the village, Kharsaev Isa (born 1985) and Bakaev Usman Amrudinovich (born 1986). It is reported that the blast took place when the young men were collecting graves in the territory of an abandoned summer cottage. (From our correspondent) Kurchaloy district. Chechen Republic Report # 740 Resident of Tsotsin-Yurt village is detained for drug keeping On 10 October 2005 the service personnel of Tsotsin-Yurt village police office detained a local resident Engals Edilov (born 1960) for keeping 2 grams of drug substance, supposedly marijuana. As of the present moment, investigation is being carried. The drug substance has been sent to the expertise, according to a source within the Ministry of the Interior of the republic. (From our correspondent) Grozny. Chechen Republic Report # 739 Police seized a pistol with a muffler from a detained person On 10 October 2005 the service personnel of Leninsky district police office of Grozny and servicemen of patrol police regiment #2 carried a special operation in Artelnaya Street in which they detained a male resident of Grozny (born 1975). The man had a Makarov pistol with a muffler that had no registration number. The particulars of the detained man have not been revealed. According to a source within the Ministry of the Interior of the republic, the pistol has been sent to the criminalistic center at the Ministry of the Interior. (From our correspondent) Grozny. Chechen Republic Report # 738 Two Chechen combatants are killed in Grozny On 10 October 2005 the service personnel of Oktyabrsky district police office of Grozny in cooperation with fighters of the Anti-Terror Center (“kadyrovtsy”) carried a joint special operation at the junction of Kosmodemyanskaya and Raskova Streets. In the operation they killed Ruslan Nasilov (born 1976) and Bekkhan Katsaev (born 1985). According to the information obtained from an anonymous source within the law-enforcement bodies, both killed men were “active members of unlawful armed groups” and “we on the federal list of wanted people for committing serious crimes in the territory of the Chechen Republic”. Ruslan Nasilov was reportedly the “emir” of Achkhoy-Martan district and Bekkhan Katsaev was his personal guard. These people were suspected for murdering two servicemen of Achkhoy-Martan police office in March 2004, firing on polling stations during the election campaign of autumn 2003 and planting landmines on roads. (From our correspondent) Vedeno district. Chechen Republic Report # 717 Vedeno district is again subjected to shelling On 3 and 4 October 2005 the vicinity of the villages of Khattuni, Elistanzhi, Makhkety, Eshilkhatoy of the Chechen Vedeno district were subjected to shelling by the artillery of the Russian federal forces. According to testimonies of local people, forested and mountainous areas are mainly subjected to shelling. They last from 3 until 6 am. Residents of these villages think that the Russian military shell these areas in the morning on purpose as all the Muslims have breakfast before dawn and shelling outrages feelings of the believers who follow the requirements of the Ramadan month. (From our correspondent) http://www.ria.hrnnov.ru/eng/index.php Grozny rural district. Chechen Republic Report # 750 Vicinity of villages of Starye and Novye Atagi has been subjected to shelling At night from 13 October to 14 October 2005 the vicinity of villages of Starye Atagi (the Chechen Grozny rural district) and Novye Atagi (the Chechen Shali district) were subjected to intensive shelling by the artillery of the Russian federal forces. According to the local people's testimonies, the intensity of the shelling reminded bombardments of spring 2000. The shelling became especially intensive by 6 am as large-calibre artillery began to launch fire. The local people explain this intensification of shelling of Chechnya by yesterday's assault of several groups of armed combatants at state and law-enforcement agencies in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. (From our correspondent) Ingushetia Report # 749 Explosion at the wine distillery in Ingushetia was not an act of terror 14.10.2005. Malgobek district of the Republic of Ingushetia. It has been established that the explosion at the wine distillery in Ingushetia's Malgobek district on 12 October wasn't an act of terror. It is the conclusion of the law-enforcement bodies that carried the investigation into the tragedy. The explosion was caused by the blast of alcohol fumes. More accurate number of casualties has been established: two people died (one of them dies on the spot and the second one died in hospital) and sixteen people were wounded, two of them are now in the reanimation department and doctors state that their condition is very bad. (From our correspondent) Urus-Martan district. Chechen Republic Report # 748 Hospitals and sport center are being reconstructed in Urus-Martan district 13.10.2005. Urus-Martan district of the Chechen Republic. Thorough repairs of the building of the Urus-Martan district hospital began in the district center. Due to it all the patients have been moved to the hospital of Alkhan-Yurt village. The building is being repaired thanks to the charity donation of the president of “Rosneft” company Mikhail Gutsiriev. According to the staff of the hospital, it will be equipped with the all the medical facilities after reconstruction. There will be a canteen on each floor. At the same time the construction of the hospital in the village of Guekhi and children's sport ground is going to be completed soon. Local children will get the opportunity to play football, basketball and volleyball there. There will be special grounds for minifootball and weight-lifting. The sport ground is equipped with gymnastic apparatus. (From our correspondent) Achkhoy-Martan district. Chechen Republic Report # 747 A suspect was forced to give himself up after his younger brother was taken hostage in Achkhoy-Martan district 11.10.2005. A resident of the Samashki village of Achkhoy-Martan district center Adam Mamaev (born 1984) gave himself up to the service personnel of Achkhoy-Martan district police office. Mamaev is reportedly suspected by law-enforcement bodies of committing a crime. Adam was forced to give himself up after the police had taken his younger brother hostage. As we reported before, on 8 September at about 7 am policemen from Achkhoy-Martan district police office cane to Mamaev's house situated on Druzhba Street and arbitrarily detained Mamaev Ansor (born 1985). They told his relatives that they would release him only if his elder brother came to them. As of September 13, Adam is being kept in custody at Achkhoy-Martan district police office. There has been no information about the charges preferred to him. (From our correspondent) Sunzhenskiy district. Chechen Republic Report # 746 Local policeman is killed in Sernovodsk On 13 October 2005 at 0.30 am unidentified people killed a local police officer of the village of Sernovodsk of the Chechen Sunzha district senior lieutenant Lom-Ali Yanarsaevich Khildikharoev (born 1969). The police officer was killed with a shot through a window of his house situated at the address Sovetsky Lane, 6. The man received fatal wounds and died on the spot. Criminal case has been commenced. The investigation is being carried. (From our correspondent) Ingushetia Report # 745 A blast in Malgobek district - one person is killed and three other are wounded On 12 October 2005 at about 3.30 pm there was an explosion at the territory of the wine and vodka distillery situated in Malgobek district of Ingushetia. One worker was killed and three police servicemen were wounded with metal pieces. As a result of the blast a gas pipeline was damaged too. As of the present moment, repair works are being carried at the distillery. The law-enforcement bodies are checking the two versions of the accident: an act of terror and equipment failure. (From our correspondent) Grozny rural district. Chechen Republic Report # 736 Funeral of a young killed girl in Starye Atagi On 11 October 2005 Yunusova Madina Ibragimovna (born 1986) was buried on a cemetery on her native village of Starye Atagi of the Chechen Grozny rural district. Yunusova temporarily lived in the area of the 30th district of Oktyabr'sky district of Grozny before her death. Yesterday her corpse was found in the territory of the 6th lime-pit situated at the outskirts of Grozny. Yunusova Madina worked as a secretary in the administration of Oktyabr'sky district of the Chechen capital. According to her relatives, she was abducted in the beginning of October together with a guard of the administration who was taking her home in his car. On 10 October the corpses of both abducted people were found in the 6th lime-pit. According to witnesses' testimonies, the death of Madina Yunusova and her colleague was caused with a shot at the head. (From our correspondent) Urus-Martan district. Chechen Republic Report # 733 Woman living in Valerik is shot dead On 8 October 2005 at nighttime unidentified people shot dead a resident of Valerik village of the Chechen Urus-Martan district Baymurzaeva Gulya. The criminal case has been initiated and the investigation is being carried. (From our correspondent) Grozny. Chechen Republic Report # 732 Pupil has been in coma for two weeks since he was run over by a policeman 10.10.2005.Grozny. The Chechen Republic. The state of a pupil from Grozny Islam Il'asov remains critical after he was injured in a road accident. The boy has been in coma for two weeks. The car that ran the boy over was driven by a police serviceman. Doctors of the city hospital #9 are doing their utmost to save the boy's life. His parents keep watching by his bedside. The road accident happened on 24 September 2005 when Islam Zayendinovich Il'asov (born 1994) was crossing a road at the junction of Lenin Avenue and Chapaev Street in Leninsky district of Grozny in a group with some other children. The boy was run over by a “Zhiguli” car of the 15th make. The car was driven by Lom-Ali Tsaroev, a policeman from the village of Katry-Yurt of the Chechen Achkhoy-Martan district. In spite of the fact that children were crossing the street, the driver didn't reduce the speed and didn't make an attempt to brake. It resulted in a tragedy. Islam got his right arm broken and he received a serious craniocerebral trauma. Fristly the boy was operated on at the district hospital of Urus-Martan and then he was moved to Grozny hospital #9. A criminal case has been commenced against Tsaroev. It's necessary to point to the fact that he is covering all the expenses connected with the medical assistance to the boy. (From our correspondent) Achkhoy-Martan district. Chechen Republic Report # 730 Resident of the village of Samashky has been released after his kidnapping four months before In the morning of 8 October 2005, resident of the village Samashky, Emin Aiziev, was released after unknown force agents had kidnapped him four months before. Unknown person threw him out of a car not far from his house. According to the witnesses' testimonies, Emin was so exhausted and beaten up that he could hardly move. He says that he does not know where he was kept and who were together with him. The relatives of Aiziev have taken him away from the village for medical treatment. (From our correspondent) Shalinskiy district. Chechen Republic Report # 727 In Shali a local inhabitant has been arrested for illegal possessing of one and half kilo of marihuana On 6 October 2005 in Shali district center representatives of the law-enforcement agencies detained its resident Bislan Janaraliev. He lives there at the address 9 Kaluzhskaya Street. His household was searched and one and half kilo of marihuana was discovered. There was a “Zhiguli” car of the 9th make that had been hijacked some time before it. (From our correspondent) Shalinskiy district. Chechen Republic Report # 726 A resident of Mesker- Yurt was kidnapped and killed by unknown people As of 8 October 2005, the service personnel of Shali district police office keeps investigating the abduction and the subsequent murder of a resident of the village of Mesker-Yurt of the Chechen Shali district. The crime was committed this week. On 5 October the corpse of the local resident Aslambek Gazimagomaev was discovered at the outskirts of the village. The corpse bore marks of a violent death. Gazimagomaev was abducted on 3 October from his own house by unidentified armed people in camouflage who were moving around in a vehicle without a state license plate. (From our correspondent) Vedeno district. Chechen Republic Report # 725 Total passport control operation was conduced in Vedeno On 7 October 2005 in the region center of Vedeno of the Chechen Republic, the representatives of the federal forces together with the force agencies made up of ethnic Chechens carried out a special operation aimed at checking of the passport regime. They checked documents of all the residents of the village that were in the village at that time. According to the information obtained from the local police servicemen, nobody was detained in the operation. (From our correspondent) Vedeno district. Chechen Republic Report # 724 Locality of the Pervomaysky settlement was fired at by mortars On 7 October 2005 the mountainous and forested area situated near the village of Azhi- Aul (former settlement of Pervomaysky) in the Chechen Vedeno district was subjected to intensive bombardment from the direction where the Russian military unit is stationed. The bombardment lasted from 12 until 3 pm. Although none of residents of the village suffered, they experienced a deep stress. (From our correspondent) Vedeno district. Chechen Republic Report # 723 The area around the village of Elistanzhi was subjected to shelling On 8 October 2005 the mountainous area near the village of Elistanzhi of the Chechen Vedeno district was subjected to shelling by artillery of the Russian federal forces. It lasted from 4 until 6 am. We have to remind that the RCIA has received a number of reports from the district stating that since the beginning of October such shelling has been launched regularly at time same time of a day. (From our correspondent) Sunzhenskiy district. Chechen Republic Report # 718 Relatives of an abducted resident of Sernovodsk are turning to human rights people On 4 October 2005 relatives of Ali Salavdievich Susariev (born 1962) turned to a correspondent of the RCIA with the request to assist them in their search for their relatives. Susariev is a resident of the settlement of Servodsk of the Chechen Sunzha district where he lives at the address 84 Lenin Street. On 21 September 2005 at about 5 pm representatives of some unidentified force agency took him away from his own house. Members of Ali Susariev's family are afraid to turn to law-enforcement agencies and the Ministry of the Interior of the Chechen Republic with the written statement on his abduction. They also hope that they will manage to set him free by applying to some unofficial methods. As of the present moment, the destiny and whereabouts of the abducted man remain unknown. (From our correspondent) Vedeno district. Chechen Republic Report # 717 Vedeno district is again subjected to shelling On 3 and 4 October 2005 the vicinity of the villages of Khattuni, Elistanzhi, Makhkety, Eshilkhatoy of the Chechen Vedeno district were subjected to shelling by the artillery of the Russian federal forces. According to testimonies of local people, forested and mountainous areas are mainly subjected to shelling. They last from 3 until 6 am. Residents of these villages think that the Russian military shell these areas in the morning on purpose as all the Muslims have breakfast before dawn and shelling outrages feelings of the believers who follow the requirements of the Ramadan month. (From our correspondent) http://www.ria.hrnnov.ru/eng/index.php |