The Chechen Times

Russian soldiers raid houses for alcohol and abduct people


On June 2, relatives of Rizvan Munayev, a native of the Chechen village of Serzhen-Yurt, ransomed him from the captivity of Russian troops. Munayev was forcedly taken away from his home last Saturday. While in Russian troops' custody, Minayev was severely beaten. He sustained several rib fractures.

According to the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society, the Munayevs are well known in Serzhen-Yurt. Rizvan's father is in charge of a medical aid post, his cousin is a police colonel, another cousin works for investigating bodies. Rizvan owns a small trade outlet. Many villagers do not like the Munayevs for their outright pro-Russian position.

Ramzan Munayev, father of the released, told a Society's correspondent: "We had urged our fellow villagers to take part in the (constitutional) referendum, telling them we should remain part of the Russian Federation. Now I don't know what to say my countrymen." He believes his son was abducted for refusal to sell vodka to Russian soldiers and to tell them who of the villagers had liquor at home.

Khamzat Saidullayev from the same village was abducted on May 23. His family ransomed him two days after. He also was brutally beaten. He had his ribs broken and is still in critical condition. The Society reported he has uncontrollable bronchial hemorrhage.

In the meantime, human abductions continue in Chechnya. One of the latest incidents occurred in Grozny. On the evening of May 30, unknown culprits dressed in camouflage took away Timur Chinkhoyev. They came in three Zhiguli cars.

[04.06.2003 19:28] Prima News Agency