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4 August 2003
Mass protest action of Achkhoi-Martan district inhabitants
The angry inhabitants of Achkhoi-Martan district of Chechnya have been
protesting for two days demanding to stop Russian army abuses.
The numerous demonstration was caused by abduction of a 16-year-old
local girl. On August 2, Russian servicemen had reportedly abducted
the young girl in Samashky village. As a result over 200 angry locals
of three villages gathered at the Achkho-Martan - Samachky road and
blocked traffic.
Eliza Katsayeva, 16 was abducted August 2 evening in her own house.
According to her relatives a group of Russian servicemen burst into
the house to detain the girl's brother. When they failed to find him
the soldiers took away the girl instead in a unknown direction.
The wrathful villagers picketed the village administration building
the same day. The head of the Achkoi- Martan district administration
Elly Danayev pledged to do everything possible to release the girl.
However, he obviously did not succeeded.
"So far we have yet no idea who abducted the girl and her whereabouts.
The locals persisted the abduction was perpetrated by Russian servicemen,
but the Russian forces commandment claimed the army personnel had nothing
to do with the incident. We keep on searching," said an officer of Achkhoi-
Martan police department .
"The Chechen police and authorities are pretty well aware that Russian
servicemen did abduct the girl. Since the militaries were granted free
hand in here and go completely unpunished for their atrocities, terrorizing
civilians, the local authorities have neither forces, nor possibility
to influence the servicemen," said an angry 55-year-old local man Khasan
Aliyev. "They declared they pursued the girl's brother who allegedly
supported militants. But why on earth should his sister be blamed on
and abducted? Just recently the federal officials boasted they sentenced
Col. Budanov. Listen, we have thousands of such 'budanovs' around here
and nobody's gonna get them in jail! How long does it go?
The protesting people are firm to proceed their action. The locals of
Samashki warn they are not going to give ground until Elza Katsayeva
will be released.
Ruslan Adayev, Chechnya Caucasus Times
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