28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Kabardino-Balkaria: Trial began against 59 suspects accused of armed attack in 2005; many of the detainees say they were tortured into giving confessions ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23505]

"In Kabardino-Balkaria a trial began in October against 59 suspects accused of an armed attack on Nalchik in October 2005 in which over 100 people died.

Many of the detainees, including former Guantánamo detainee Rasul Kudaev, alleged they were tortured into giving confessions."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Kabardino-Balkaria: Since president Kanokov is in office, a sort of thaw can be felt in the republic; but security situation is not stable, because Kanokov is not in control of security forces, who work with “Chechen methods”; Nalchik hosts North Caucasian Anti-Terrorist Centre, directed by Moscow ("Nordkaukasus; Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien sowie in Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarien, Inguschetien und Nordossetien") [ID 18701]

"In Kabardino-Balkarien herrscht seit dem Amtsantritt von Präsident Arsen Kanokov im Herbst 2005 eine Art Tauwetter. Zwar erschütterte zwei Wochen später der Überfall islamistischer Kämpfer auf die Hauptstadt Nalchik, der rund 150 Todesopfer forderte, die Republik, doch gewisse Verbesserungen betreffend die Meinungsfreiheit sind unübersehbar. MenschenrechtsaktivistInnen dürfen Medienkonferenzen abhalten, wann immer sie wollen – was bis vor kurzem unvorstellbar war. Die Wirtschaft Kabardino-Balkariens hat der schwerreiche Präsident reformiert und für ausländische Investoren fit getrimmt. Doch die Situation ist labil, denn Präsident Kanokov kontrolliert die Sicherheitskräfte nicht: Einerseits handelt sein eigenes Innenministerium oft selbstständig, und andererseits ist in Nalchik das Anti-Terrorzentrum für den nördlichen Kaukasus angesiedelt, das direkt Moskau unterstellt ist. Aus diesem Grund ist es in den vergangenen Wochen in Kabardino-Balkarien vermehrt zu Verschleppungen und Verhaftungen von MenschenrechtsaktivistInnen und JournalistInnen gekommen. Inhaftierte berichten, dass die Sicherheitskräfte nach «tschetschenischen » Methoden arbeiten: Sie foltern Geständnisse heraus, und wer nicht gesteht, kann durchaus für immer verschwinden."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Several zones of conflict in North Caucasus; about 50 people die in the region every month, abductions happen on daily basis; concerns that beside Dagestan other republics could increasingly become scenes of terrorist attacks; unlike in Chechnya, Moscow concentrates on strong presence of federal forces in the other republics of North Caucasus, which could lead to strengthening of islamist rebels ("Nordkaukasus; Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien sowie in Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarien, Inguschetien und Nordossetien") [ID 18715]

"Der Blick auf die gesamte Region zeigt, dass Tschetschenien eine Schnittstelle zwischen den beschriebenen Konfliktzonen des Nordkaukasus und denjenigen des Südkaukaus (Georgien, Aserbaidschan etc.) ist. Zwar hat Russlands Präsident Putin den Krieg in Tschetschenien bereits vor Jahren für beendet erklärt, doch die Kampfhandlungen dehnen sich schleichend aus. Insgesamt sterben im Krieg im Nordkaukasus laut der Anti-Kriegschronik von Memorial rund 50 Menschen pro Monat, täglich werden Menschen entführt. Nähe und Vernetzung der Konfliktzonen erleichtern diese Ausdehnung. Die jüngere Entwicklung gibt gar Anlass zur Sorge, dass neben Dagestan auch die andern nationalen Republiken des Nordkaukasus immer öfter zum Schauplatz einer Eskalationsspirale von Terroranschlägen radikaler Separatisten und russländischer Spezialeinheiten werden. Im Unterschied zu Tschetschenien, wo Moskau die Verantwortung zunehmend lokalen Strukturen überträgt, setzt es im übrigen Nordkaukasus auf mehr zentralistische Kontrolle und stärkere Militärpräsenz. Beides ist problematisch: Russlands Rückzug aus Tschetschenien birgt die Gefahr eines innertschetschenischen Konflikts. Moskaus Auftreten als Polizeimacht in den anderen Republiken des Nordkaukasus scheint das heikle Gleichgewicht in der Region aus dem Lot zu bringen und eine Stärkung islamistischer Rebellengruppen zu fördern."

Document(s): Open document

03.08.2006 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

The practice of “disappearing” people has spread into the territories adjacent to Chechnya ("On the Situation of Residents of Chechnya in the Russian Federation (July 2005-July 2006)") [ID 18867]

"Following the attack of militants on Nazran and Karabulak in summer 2004, the seizure of school in Beslan in September 2004, and the developments in Nalchik on October 13-14, 2005, the practice of “disappearing” people started to spread into the territories adjacent to Chechnya – first to Ingushetia and then to North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria and Dagestan."

Document(s): Russian-language report
English-language report

06.07.2006 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

8 months after bloody attack on Nalchik Kabardino-Balkaria is on state of alert as police patrol streets and comb mountains in search of responsible armed Islamic forces ("Renewed Fears of Militancy in Kabardino-Balkaria") [ID 15396]

"Kabardino-Balkaria has been on a state of alert over the last month as the authorities step up efforts to arrest Islamic militants. Eight months after a bloody attack on the city of Nalchik, which left more than 100 people dead, the authorities say they are still rounding up suspects linked to the violence. One leading suspect, Zaur Guchev, who figures on a list of the 24 most wanted men, was arrested on July 3. The week of June 5 to 12 was especially tense, with police patrolling in increased-strength units on all the main roads and public spaces in Nalchik. Officials denied rumours that police were searching for notorious Chechen militant leader Shamil Basayev. But in the streets, policemen were heard telling people, “We’re looking for Basayev”, and there was talk that he had been sighted in the republic. (…)On June 6, a big police search operation took place in the mountains near Mount Elbrus, and the new interior minister of Kabardino-Balkaria, Yury Tomchak, said various branches of the Russian security forces were taking part. Local government officials said all access roads and footpaths around the area were blocked on the day of the operation. (…)"

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Raid in Nalchik on 13 October 2005 reportedly in response to months of persecution of Muslims and closure of mosques; raid followed by detention of dozens, involving torture ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 15379]

" On 13 October a group of up to 300 gunmen launched attacks on government installations in and near Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, including the building of the Federal Security Service (FSB), police stations, the TV centre and the airport. There were reports that gunmen took at least two civilians hostage. More than 100 people, including at least 12 civilians, were reported to have been killed during the ensuing shooting between law enforcement officials and the gunmen; many were wounded. The raid was reportedly in response to months of persecution of practising Muslims in the region, including arbitrary detention and torture by law enforcement officials, and wholesale closure of mosques. Following the raid, law enforcement officials detained dozens of people; many of the detainees were reportedly tortured. At least one person was reported to have “disappeared” following the raid."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

12 civilians were killed during a large-scale rebel attack on Nalchik; these attacks follow a number of terrorist acts in 2004 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 11893]

"According to authorities, 12 civilians were killed during a large-scale rebel attack on Nalchik, capital of the Republic of Karbardino‑Balkariya. The attackers, who numbered as many as 300, targeted military garrisons and police stations throughout the town. The death toll among military and law‑enforcement personnel was reported to be 34. Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility. Most observers appeared to believe that a majority of the attackers were natives of Karbardino-Balkariya.

There were also rebel attacks in other parts of the Northern Caucasus. Chechen rebels continued to launch attacks on government forces and police in Ingushetiya during the year.

These attacks follow a number of terrorist acts in 2004. In February 2004 Basayev claimed responsibility for an attack in which a suicide bomber blew up a car on the Moscow metro, killing 40 persons. In March 2004 terrorist Abu al‑Walid stated that further attacks should be expected. In August 2004 suicide bombers from Chechnya were believed to have carried out the near-simultaneous downing of two civilian aircraft, killing 89 persons, and a suicide bombing later that month at a metro station in Moscow that killed ten persons. In September 2004 terrorists took an estimated 1,200 teachers, children and parents hostage in a school in Beslan, North Ossetia. During the hostage-taking and the rescue effort by troops and security forces, at least 330 hostages died. Security forces subsequently killed most of the hostage takers in a firefight that lasted several hours."

Document(s): Open document

01.2006 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Attacks in Nalchik on October 13, 2005 illustrate increasing instability in North Caucasus ("World Report 2006") [#42318],  [ID 11894]

"Hostilities between law enforcement agencies and insurgents in the Kabardino-Balkaria region dramatically illustrate the increasing instability in the North Caucasus. On October 13, 2005, armed
insurgents launched a major attack on police stations, the airport, and government buildings in Nalchik, the region’s capital, taking several hostages. The hostilities reportedly resulted in more than 130 deaths,
including at least forty-four civilians and local police officers. Although Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for the attack, most insurgents appeared to have been locals."

Document(s): Open document

29.04.2005 - Source: BBC News

Kabardino-Balkaria: 4 members of the Islamic militant group Yarmuk, and a policeman killed in shootout in Nalchik ("Five die in N Caucasus shootout") [#31733],  [ID 11895]

Document(s): Open document

21.02.2005 - Source: ReliefWeb

Kabardino-Balkaria: bodies of 3 men found when security forces attacked a building to flush out suspected Islamic rebels ("Putin to security forces: Be 'harder' on rebels in Caucasus (AFP)") [#29178],  [ID 11896]

Document(s): Open document

14.12.2004 - Source: BBC News

North Caucasus: 2 guards, driver and member of Russian special forces killed by Islamic extremists in Nalchik ("Caucasus gunmen kill four in raid") [#27635],  [ID 11897]

Document(s): Open document