| Chechnya: Who Is Behind Human Abductions? On January 12, 2005, the Human Rights Center “Memorial†reported that in December 2004, in the Chechen Republic, servicemen of enforcement agencies kidnapped eight relatives of Aslan Maskhadov. In response to that information, several Chechen officials stated that “those reports do not reflect the actual state of things,†that “the information was thoroughly checked, and it was established that no relatives of the given persons addressed the police or other enforcement agencies with complaints about respective disappearances,†that “not a single law-enforcement agency of Chechnya was involved†in the said abductions. High-placed official of the Chechen Republic also stress that “law-enforcement bodies of the Chechen Republic have never resorted to such methods as kidnappings.†In this connection, we would like emphasize that the HRC “Memorial†has factual data evidencing involvement of Chechen law-enforcers in human abductions (a very illustrative example be found at http://www.memo.ru/hr/hotpoints/caucas1/msg/2004/07/m21834.htm). In Chechnya, bandits have been kidnapping people and continue to do so. But as a Russian human rights organization, we are particularly disturbed by the lawless actions of those who act on behalf of the State, i.e. staff-members of federal and local enforcement agencies. For the past year, we have been noting time and again that in their fight with the rebels official structures practice taking their relative hostage. In particular, in March 2004, the HRC “Memorial†reported that the so-called “volunteer surrender†of the field commander Magomed Khambiev was achieved by means of having taken hostages approximately 40 of his relatives, including women (see: †http://www.memo.ru/hr/hotpoints/caucas1/msg/2004/03/m13451.htm). We by no means sympathize with this former rebel fighter, who is responsible, according to our data, for a number of crimes against civilians. However, in our opinion, the State has no right to use bandits’ own methods in fighting the bandits. Also, in the “Chronicle of Violence†available at the website of the HRC “Memorial,†there are reports relevant to hostage-taking of relatives of other, less famous rebel fighters. Turning back to the issue of the kidnapping of Aslan Maskhadov’s relatives, we believe it important to draw public attention to the remark made by Rudnik Dudaev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Chechen Republic, on January 11 this year, in his interview to a correspondent of “The Chechen Republic†informational channel (www.kavkaz.strana.ru), titled “I think that human abduction is intolerable, even with regard to relatives of terrorists†: "We do have some information about the disappearance of Aslan Maskhadov’s relatives in the republic. <…> However, according to our data, this disappearance occurred over a month ago. I still do not have precise information regarding those relatives of Aslan Maskhadov. Our possibilities are limited, and this has to be taken into account. But getting back to the case in question, I would like to say that this kidnapping did not succeed in making any significant influence on the over-all situation. See for yourself – Maskhadov’s relatives disappeared over a month ago, but neither Maskhadov nor his closest consorts have put down their weapons and surrendered. So, if someone thinks that one can influence the situation by such means, this person is mistaken." No additional comment seems to be necessary. January 14, 2004 Human Rights Center “Memorial†__________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________ International Helsinki Federation For Human Rights, Vienna International Federation for Human Rights, Paris Open Letter to President Putin on the Kidnappings of Aslan Maskhadov’s Relatives by Chechen Enforcement Agencies Vienna, Paris, 19 January 2005 HE Vladimir Putin President of the Russian Federation The Kremlin, Moscow Via facsimile: +7 095 206 07 66 / 206 24 64 Dear President Putin, For the past several years, our organizations have been regularly monitoring and reporting to the international community on kidnappings in and around the Chechen Republic. In connection with many such cases, there were strong allegations or direct proof that members of local and federal enforcement agencies were perpetrators in these crimes. In 2004, we became particularly concerned by the instances of hostage-taking of rebel fighters’ relatives by Chechnya law-enforcers, especially by the presidential security service, with the aim of achieving the cooperation and/or the surrender of the said rebels. We attempted to discuss such heinous practices with Russian authorities but to no avail. Then, after the Beslan tragedy, we were deeply concerned by an attempt to legitimize hostage-taking by state agents made by the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, the chief official supervising compliance with the law, who proposed to the State Duma to take family-members of individuals suspected of terrorism hostage as a necessary and effective measure to fight terrorism. At the time, we hoped for your strong reaction to that initiative coming from such a high official as Mr. Ustinov, but no such reaction followed. Recently, we were informed by the Human Rights Center ‘Memorial’ and other reliable Russian sources, that members of the presidential security service under the command and order of Ramzan Kadyrov - the so-called kadyrovtsi - have abducted at least eight relatives of Aslan Maskhadov, and allegedly brought them to their illegal “prison” in Tsenteroi, Gudermes district of Chechnya, in order to force Maskhadov to give up his armed resistance against the federal government. The following relatives of Aslan Maskhadov were abducted: · Buchu Alievna Abdulkadirova (67), sister of Aslan Maskhadov, living in Grozny, Staropromyslovsky district, settlement Krasnaya Turbina, Turbinnaya street 62, was taken away on 3 December 2004 at about 9 pm by a group of kadyrovtsi, who came in 9 cars. When being stopped at a block post of the battalion ‘West’ of the GRU, the kadyrovtsi shouted that they were sent by Ramzan Kadyrov, and that the abducted person was the sister of Maskhadov. Ramzan Kadyrov confirmed this over the phone, and the GRU servicemen had to let the armed group pass. · Lecha Alievich Maskhadov (68), brother of Aslan Maskhadov, living in Grozny, Staropromyslovsky district, settlement Podgorny, Mostovaja street b/n, was taken away on 3 December 2004 at about 8:15 pm by a group of kadyrovtsi, who came in 12 cars. · Lema Alievich Maskhadov (55), brother of Aslan Maskhadov, living in the Groznenskoselsky district, settlement Pervomaiskaya, Sovetskaya street 125, was taken away on 3 December 2004, at about 8 pm by a group of kadyrovtsi. He was not even allowed to dress. · Adam Abdul-Karimovich Rashiev (54), a distant handicapped relative of Aslan Maskhadov, living in Grozny, Staropromyslovsky district, settlement Podgorny, Sovkhoznaja street 26, was taken away on 3 December 2004 at about 8:15 pm by a group of kadyrovtsi, who came in 11 cars. · Ihvan Vahaevich Magomedov (35), nephew of Aslan Maskhadov, living in the Groznenskoselsky district, settlement Pervomaiskaya, Sovetskaya street 87, was taken away on 3 December 2004 at about 8 pm by a group of kadyrovtsi. The group openly showed that they were operating under the order of Ramzan Kadyrov. · Khadizhat Vakhaevna Satueva (40), niece of Aslan Maskhadov, living in the house of her mother, Buchu Abdulkadyrova (Grozny, Staropromyslovsky district, settlement Krasnaya Turbina, Turbinnaya street 62), was taken away on 28 December 2004 by a group of kadyrovtsi. They took her barefooted. · Usman Ramzanovich Satuev (47), son-in-law of Aslan Maskhadov, living in Grozny, Staropromyslovsky district, settlement “Novaja,” was taken away on 28 December 2004 by a group of kadyrovtsi. · Movladi (35), relative of Aslan Maskhadov, living in Grozny, Staropromyslovsky district, settlement “Avtotrest,” was taken away on 28 December 2004 by a group of kadyrovtsi. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) emphasize that hostage-taking is universally condemned in a number of international legal documents: in particular the 1979 UN Convention Against the Taking of Hostages, which qualifies these acts as an "offence of grave concern to the international community." We strongly reject the use of such terrorist methods by the armed group of Ramzan Kadyrov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic and recent recipient of the ‘Hero Of Russia’ Award. We ask you to ensure that the aforesaid hostages be released and the perpetrators in this crime, including Ramzan Kadyrov himself, be effectively brought to justice. Your expedient reaction to this case would demonstrate to the international community, still taken aback by the Prosecutor General’s proposal, that the Russian Federation upholds international human rights standards and shall not tolerate hostage-taking in any form. Sincerely, Aaron Rhodes (IHF, Executive Director) Sidiki Kaba (FIDH, President) Cc: Dmitry Kozak Presidential Envoy to the Southern Federal District For further information: International Helsinki Federation For Human Rights, Wickenburggasse 14/7, A-1080 Vienna, Austria, Tel: +43-1-408 88 22, Fax: +43-1-408 88 22 50; in Moscow: Tanya Lokshina, +7-916 624 1906 International Federation for Human Rights, 17, Passage de la Main-d’or, F-75011 Paris, France, Tel: +33-1-43 55 25 18, Fax: +33-1-43 55 18 80 January 18th 2005 · Prague Watchdog TB outbreak three times higher in Chechnya than in Russia Timur Aliyev, North Caucasus – Unofficial figures for people with tuberculosis in Chechnya are nearly triple those of Russia, according to Musa Akhmadov, Health Minister of the Chechen Republic. “Just in the first half of last year, there were more than 500 new cases, ten percent of which were active forms of tuberculosis,” the minister stated. Furthermore, the total of officially registered TB cases is in excess of the Russian index: 28 patients per thousand in Chechnya compared to 26 per thousand in Russia, he added. According to him, the presence of tuberculosis in the republic reared its head many years ago. “The outbreak of this disease among Chechens began during the years after the 1944 deportations; and our country was in first place in the USSR for total number of infections.” But the situation is even more alarming today as the republic’s tuberculosis centre does not have the strength to cope with such a widespread problem. “Hospital beds meet only a fifth of the demand; and there are not enough specialists nor even medical equipment such as bronchoscopes and X-rays,” the minister said. According to his figures, the number of infected patients that are hospitalized does not exceed 15% since the rest are being treated as outpatients. He added that during the past four years of the federal program to rebuild the economy of Chechnya, not one specialized hospital or clinic had been renovated or constructed. He concluded that such healthcare conditions cannot in any way provide a good health service. According to official data, the number of patients with active forms of TB is around 6,000, and more than 16,000 are outpatients. In addition, a growth in the rate of TB infections has been observed. The start of 2004 revealed more than a two-fold increase in numbers than in the same period a year earlier. The Chechen Health Ministry is certain that the data obtained from medical establishments does not give the whole picture. Along with the reluctance of those infected to seek medical attention, the country-wide fluoroscope inspection of the population collapsed in the last ten years. eng.kavkaz.memo.ru Caucasian Knot 18/1/2005 Chechen student's sentence to be appealed Vladimir Suvorov and Zezag Usmanova, the defense of Zara Murtazaliyeva - a resident of Chechnya convicted by the Moscow City Court on January 17, are extremely dissatisfied with the court decision and intend to appeal it. The court sentenced the 22-year-old student from Chechnya to 9 years' imprisonment under three articles: preparation of a crime, terrorism, and carrying of explosives. Explosives allegedly found in Zara's bag were destroyed during an experiment – investigators checked if they exploded or not. So it is impossible to prove weather they had Murtazaliyeva's fingerprints. Besides, at the very beginning of the hearing, it was announced that Zara had received training in a terrorist camp near Baku. However Azerbaijan authorities stated categorically that terrorists from Chechnya had no camp on their territory. It was also mentioned in the indictment that Zara had taken active part in operations against federal troops in Chechnya since 1994. But the certificate presented by the girl's mother says that she was at secondary school and was only 12 at that time. According to Mr Suvorov, the deed of the mother of Zara's friend Anna Kulikova, who was a witness in the Murtazaliyeva case, also indicates that the State Security Department and the Federal Security Service concocted the case. Kulikova's mother submitted an application to the Civic Assistance Committee that her daughter was being forced to give false evidence by beating, threats, and insult. Russian human rights activists are going to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights against the sentence imposed on Chechen Zara Murtazaliyeva. Author: Emilia Kazumova, CK correspondent |