Source:

Ingushetia: Security situation for Chechens refugees markedly worsened over the past month [ID 16828]

"Over the past month the situation in Ingushetia has gotten worse. There has been a sharp increase in illegal arrests of people, refugees in particular. Ingush law enforcement bodies carry out operations almost every day to detain offenders who, quite often, show armed resistance. [...] As for refugee camps, the situation has also worsened. Members of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), coming from other Russian regions, are present in every camp. Their task is to prevent any foreign journalists from entering the camps. When journalists arrive they are asked to leave the camp in accordance with some invisible order which allegedly regulates the contact between refugees and journalists."

28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Human rights violations including enforced disappearances, abductions, arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial executions reported in the Republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and North Ossetia ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23503]

"Federal and local law enforcement agencies operating in the region responded in an arbitrary and unlawful fashion to violent attacks by armed groups.

Serious human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and abductions, arbitrary detention, torture including in unofficial places of detention, and extrajudicial executions, were reported in the Republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and North Ossetia.

People were convicted of crimes in cases where forced "confessions" formed part of the evidence against them.

People mounted demonstrations in Ingushetia and Dagestan against disappearances and other arbitrary actions by law enforcement agencies.

A rally against disappearances was banned in Chechnya's capital, Grozny, in October.

Human rights abuses, including abductions, were reportedly committed by armed groups against civilians in the region."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Incidents of killings, torture and ill-treatment and enforced disappearances in Ingushetia in 2007 ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23504]

"In Ingushetia, in at least six cases where men were shot dead by law enforcement officers, witnesses claimed that the men had been summarily executed; the authorities stated that they had put up armed resistance.

Relatives of a six-year-old boy, shot dead by law enforcement during a raid on the family home in November, claimed he had been killed deliberately.

Detainees were tortured and ill-treated in order to extract "confessions" or information.

At least three people subjected to enforced disappearance or abduction during the year remained missing at the end of the year.

Ibragim Gazdiev was seized by armed men in camouflage in August in Karabulak, Ingushetia, and subsequently disappeared.

The armed men were allegedly law enforcement officials from the Federal Security Service (FSB). The authorities officially denied that Ibragim Gazdiev had been detained.

He has not been seen or heard from since."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Federal forces were rushed to Ingushetiya in August 2007, following failure of local forces to deal with deteriorating security situation, and abductions and attacks have increased ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22595]

"During the year complex and interlocking insurgencies caused continuing instability in the North Caucasus. These included the remnants of a nationalist separatist insurgency in Chechnya, a widening Islamist insurgency throughout the North Caucasus, and continued clan warfare among elite groups struggling for power. Federal and local security forces were implicated in the excessive use of force to quell the insurgencies and engaged in human rights abuses, including torture, summary executions, disappearances, and arbitrary detentions. Chechen rebels also committed human rights abuses, including major acts of terrorism and summary executions. The role and number of federal forces has decreased considerably, leaving most security operations to local forces. Federal forces were rushed to Ingushetiya in August, however, following the failure of local forces to deal with a deteriorating security situation, and abductions and attacks have increased. Overall, despite some decreases in disappearances and killings, the human rights record remained poor, and unrest continued in and around the Chechen Republic and worsened considerably in the Republic of Ingushetiya."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

During the year there were more killings, attacks, and abductions in Ingushetiya than in any other republic in the North Caucasus; several special operations carried out in Ingushetiya ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22596]

"There was a significant increase in the number of killings, usually by unknown assailants, targeting both civilians and officials in Ingushetiya. Human rights organizations report that, in contrast to years when the conflict in Chechnya was more severe and Ingushetiya had relatively few killings, during the year there were more killings, attacks, and abductions in Ingushetiya than in any other republic in the North Caucasus. Ingushetiya authorities, including President Murat Zyazikov, have attempted to minimize the number of abuses and attacks, despite the deployment of several thousand additional Interior Ministry troops to stabilize the republic.

During February and March, security forces from Ingushetiya and neighboring Chechnya and North Ossetiya carried out several special operations in Ingushetiya in which nine suspected insurgents were killed.

According to human rights organizations, the situation continued to deteriorate in the summer. On June 17, police in Surkhakhi killed suspected insurgent Ruslan Aushev in a special operation that the NGO Memorial noted was conducted with extreme brutality. On September 2, police killed Apti Dolokov during a special operation in the town of Karabulak. Human rights organizations reported that police fatally shot Dolokov in the head after they had immobilized him. On September 27, police from the federal and local ministries of internal affairs killed two brothers, 24-year-old Said-Magomed and 21-year-old Ruslan Galayev in their homes in front of their families. The two were suspected of being religious insurgents. On October 9, police killed fifth-year law student Albert Gorbakov in Malgobek when he allegedly resisted arrest. According to Memorial, Gorbakov offered no resistance, but police shot him after he and others followed police orders to get out of their vehicle."

Document(s): Open document

25.10.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

An increasing number of enforced disappearances, abductions and other human rights violations mark the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ingushetia ("Do not repeat mistakes made in Chechnya [EUR 46/045/2007]") [ID 21368]

"The Russian and Ingush authorities must not repeat mistakes made in Chechnya, Amnesty International warned, as an increasing number of enforced disappearances, abductions and other human rights violations mark the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ingushetia, Chechnya's neighbour in the Russian Federation. (...)
Law enforcement officials are reportedly conducting document checks and detentions in Ingushetia without identifying themselves, and in some cases wearing masks. In an apparently punitive raid on the village of Ali Yurt in July 2007 villagers were reportedly rounded up and beaten, while seven men were detained and taken to the building of the Federal Security Services in Magas where some were reportedly ill-treated. At least three men have been shot dead in the town of Nazran by law enforcement officers over the course of the year; while the authorities have stated that those had put up armed resistance, witnesses to the killings claim that the men were summarily executed. Similar incidents have been reported in the towns of Malgobek and Karabulak. Three men are still missing after being abducted in Ingushetia this year. A fourth man's whereabouts remain unknown, after he went missing in March. Other men have been released, having been abducted; some have been ill-treated or held in secret detention, including in pits dug in the ground. A number of other ethnic Ingush men are reported to have gone missing in neighbouring North Ossetia. Their relatives believe they may have been detained by law enforcement officials and subsequently disappeared. (...)
 Amnesty International is also concerned about human rights abuses reportedly committed by armed groups against civilians, including abductions. The organization has also received information that unknown gunmen are committing numerous attacks against civilians: members of ethnic Russian families have been killed and a bomb exploded at a funeral held for one of the victims, injuring several people; members of a Roma family, two Korean men and a Dagestani family have also been killed during such attacks. At the same time, armed groups have launched attacks, often fatal, against members of law enforcement agencies in Ingushetia."

Document(s): Open document

27.09.2007 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Series of bombings and murders provoked Moscow into sending extra troops to Ingushetia and to set up checkpoints outside all major towns; on August 8, more than 2,500 federal soldiers were sent; many residents believe that this has made the situation worse ("Ingushetia: Fears of “Second Chechnya”") [ID 21375]

"A series of bombings and murders this summer provoked Moscow into sending extra troops. Checkpoints have been set up outside all the major towns and villages. One typical killing was on the evening of September 17 near the village of Gazi-Yurt when a FSB agent, Major Alikhan Kalimatov, was murdered by unknown gunmen. A fellow traveller was seriously injured and hospitalised. The attackers, as is now routine, escaped. (...)
Ingushetia, which until recently appeared to be a little island of stability and calm in the region, started to see a marked deterioration this spring. Some people blame an excessive reaction by security services to the kidnapping of Uruskhan Zyazikov, the elderly uncle of regional president Murat Zyazikov. (...)
Moscow reacted to the attacks on policemen, and the murder of a Russian family on July 18, by rushing officers from the interior ministry to the region to shore up security. A few days later, the FSB building in Magas, in the very heart of Ingushetia’s administrative capital, was attacked.
On August 8, more than 2,500 federal soldiers were sent to Ingushetia, along with armoured vehicles. But this did not help. Several more Russian-speaking residents, including Dagestanis and Gypsies, were murdered. Policemen and soldiers were attacked.
Many Ingushetia residents are convinced that the arrival of the soldiers actually made the situation worse. They say there weren’t any serious attacks on police in the village of Malgobek before the Russian interior ministry set up camp there. The same thing happened in the Nazran region. The soldiers’ camps and checkpoints are regularly assaulted by unknown gunmen."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Security situation has seriously deteriorated in Ingushetia, with armed groups launching attacks on troops on regular basis; reported killings of ethnic Russians has contributed to fears for stability ("Human rights concerns [EUR 46/040/2007]") [ID 21386]

"In Ingushetia, the security situation has seriously deteriorated, with armed groups launching attacks on troops on a regular basis. Reported killings of ethnic Russians has contributed to fears for the stability of the region. Law enforcement officials including troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and members of the Federal Security Service reportedly are responsible for arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances and extra-judicial executions of ethnic Ingush men. In some cases where men have been arbitrarily detained, their relatives have discovered that they have been transferred to Vladikavkaz under investigation by the investigative group of the department of the Prosecutor General for the Southern Federal Region. They are held without contact with their family and a lawyer of their choice. Amnesty International considers that these individuals are at high risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Others, such as Ibragim Gazdiev, have gone missing without a trace (see below)."

Document(s): Open document

11.09.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Three Romany men killed by unidentified gunmen in village of Ordzhonikidzovskaya; killings come amid rising violence in Ingushetia, much of which is seen as targeting Russians and Russian-speakers ("Three Romany Men Killed In Ingushetia") [ID 21133]

Document(s): Open document

13.08.2007 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Security situation in Ingushetia became especially tense in mid-2007 as federal forces launched major security sweep in response to deadly attacks on government targets; Ingushetia became North Caucasus republic with highest per-capita rate of abductions ("Government efforts help only some IDPs rebuild their lives; A profile of the internal displacement situation") [ID 21198]

"The security situation in other North Caucasus republics remains volatile. As government forces have forced Chechen rebels out of Chechnya, the rebels have been gradually establishing themselves in other North Caucasus republics, mainly Ingushetia and Dagestan. The result has been an increase in the number of armed confrontations in the North Caucasus outside Chechnya (Research Centre for East European Studies / Center for Security Studies, 5 June 2007; The Moscow Times, 28 August 2006; RFE / RL, 25 August 2006). Abductions and disappearances continue in Ingushetia, North Ossetia and Dagestan, reportedly mainly by government forces trying to collect information about the rebels’ plans (CoE, 25 January 2006; Kavkazski Uzel, 16 July 2007 and 18 July 2007; Memorial, 1 June 2007; Jamestown Foundation, 1 August 2007). Shootings and bombings by unknown parties also continue (Vesti, 19 July 2007; Swisspeace, 28 May 2007). The situation in Ingushetia became especially tense in mid-2007 as federal forces launched a major security sweep in response to a series of deadly attacks on government targets, and Ingushetia became the North Caucasus republic with the highest per-capita rate of abductions (Memorial, 1 June 2007; RFE / RL 31 July 2007)."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Abductions reportedly continued in Ingushetiya; according to Memorial 35 persons were reported abducted during 2006; security forces continued to conduct security sweeps and passport checks at temporary settlements in Ingushetiya housing IDPs from Chechnya ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19306]

"Abductions reportedly continued in Ingushetiya. Memorial stated that 35 persons were reported abducted during the year. Of them, 15 were freed, two were found dead, and 5 disappeared without a trace. The remaining 13 were later found in the custody of law enforcement agencies.

Amnesty International and other human rights groups reported that Adam Gorchkhanov disappeared from the village of Plievo, Ingushetiya, in May 2005 after being detained in a raid by an unknown security service. Relatives subsequently learned that he had been held in the pretrial detention center in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, and later transferred to the Regional Department for the Fight Against Organized Crime under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In May 2005 relatives learned that he had been taken to a hospital where, according to police statements, he jumped from a fourth floor window. A doctor, however, later told Memorial that Gorchkhanov had been admitted with a serious head injury. He died in late May 2005 from his injuries.

There were no developments during the year in the case of Ingush Deputy Prosecutor Rashid Ozdoyev, who disappeared in March 2004 after he submitted a report on alleged FSB abuses in Ingushetiya.

Throughout the year security forces continued to conduct security sweeps and passport checks at temporary settlements in Ingushetiya housing IDPs from Chechnya. These sweeps sometimes led to reports of human rights abuses or disappearances.

Following rebel attacks across Ingushetiya in 2004, federal forces conducted sweeps in several settlements housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Chechnya. Human rights groups reported cases in which military personnel beat or verbally abused persons during these sweeps; however, the 20 IDPs they arrested were all released. Human rights groups also reported that several dozen Ingush and Chechens disappeared in Ingushetiya. As with similar operations in Chechnya, reports of beatings, arbitrary detentions, and looting usually followed security sweeps."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Ingushetia like Chechnya is a region, where „antiterrorist operations“ take place; local security forces and federal troops, based in Ingushetia, commit human rights abuses on a regular basis ("Nordkaukasus; Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien sowie in Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarien, Inguschetien und Nordossetien") [ID 18707]

"Mit Beginn des Zweiten Tschetschenien-Krieges 1999 sind Zehntausende TschetschenInnen in die Nachbarrepublik Inguschetien geflohen und dort in Zeltlagern und privat untergekommen. Bis Ende 2001 haben sich Behörden der Republik gegen den Druck aus Moskau gewehrt, die Flüchtlinge zurückzuschicken. Doch ab dem Jahr 2002 änderte sich diese Haltung sukzessiv: Die inguschetischen Sicherheitskräfte begannen in den Flüchtlingslagern nach Widerstandskämpfern zu suchen, es kam zu Säuberungen, Menschen verschwanden. Im Juni 2004 überfielen zwischen 200 und 600 tschetschenische Widerstandskämpfer die Städte Nasran und Karabulak. Bei der darauf folgenden Auseinandersetzung mit den Sicherheitskräften starben 79 Menschen. Inguschetien ist seither analog zu Tschetschenien ein Gebiet, auf dem «antiterroristische Operationen» durchgeführt werden. Dies hat mit sich gebracht, dass die lokalen Sicherheitskräfte ebenso wie die in Inguschetien stationierten föderalen Truppen regelmässig schwere Menschenrechtsverletzungen begehen. Die Menschenrechtsorganisation Memorial erklärt dies mit dem enormen Druck, unter dem die Sicherheitskräfte stehen, ihre Effizienz zu beweisen und möglichst viele Täter zu überführen. Folglich foltern sie die Verhafteten, bis sie die gewünschten Geständnisse ablegen. Solche «antiterroristischen Massnahmen» destabilisieren – wie das Beispiel Tschetschenien zeigt – eine Gesellschaft und stärken die Extremisten. Wer von den Sicherheitskräften gefoltert und erniedrigt wurde, ist zu fast allem bereit, um sich zu rächen."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Conflict between Chechen and Ingush security forces escalated in September 2006, when 8 people were killed; Kadyrov’s men have repeatedly entered Ingush territory in the past; Ingush security forces seem determined to stop this practice ("Nordkaukasus; Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien sowie in Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarien, Inguschetien und Nordossetien") [ID 18708]

"Gemäss Memorial sind «heute in Inguschetien die Grundlagen für einen regelrechten Bürgerkrieg gelegt». Erst vor kurzem kam es zu einer gefährlichen Eskalation im Konflikt mit den tschetschenischen Nachbarn. Bei einer Schiesserei zwischen inguschetischen und tschetschenischen Sicherheitskräften an der Grenze kamen am 13. September 2006 acht Menschen ums Leben, mehrere weitere wurden verletzt. Gemäß verschiedenen Beobachtern sind Männer Kadyrows in der Vergangenheit immer wieder auf inguschetisches Territorium vorgedrungen, angeblich auf der Suche nach Rebellen. Doch die inguschetischen Sicherheitskräfte scheinen – wie der Vorfall zeigt – entschlossen, diese Praxis zu stoppen. Weitere blutige Auseinandersetzungen scheinen vorprogrammiert."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Since hostage-taking in Beslan tensions between North Ossetia and Ingushetia have grown once more; last July violent clashes took place; North Ossetian authorities repeatedly announced having arrested and expelled Ingush officials; Ingushetia demands from Moscow to receive back border territory ("Nordkaukasus; Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien sowie in Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarien, Inguschetien und Nordossetien") [ID 18712]

"Aktuell belasten Nordossetien zudem die Spannungen mit der Nachbarrepublik Inguschetien: Die beiden Republiken streiten um das nordossetische Prigorodny Distrikt, das bis 1944 zu Inguschetien gehörte. Bereits 1992 war der Konflikt einmal in blutige Kämpfe mit Hunderten von Toten und Tausenden von Inguschen, die in ihre Heimatrepublik flüchteten, ausgeartet. Darauf beruhigte sich die Situation, doch seit der Geiselnahme von Beslan – unter den Geiselnehmern befanden sich mehrere Inguschen – haben die Spannungen wieder zugenommen. Im vergangenen Juli ist es erneut zu gewalttätigen Auseinandersetzungen gekommen. Die nordossetischen Behörden meldeten wiederholt, inguschetische Beamte festgenommen und ausgewiesen zu haben, die versucht hatten, unter der großen inguschetischen Minderheit im Distrikt zu agitieren. Das inguschetische Parlament seinerseits hat im Juni 2006 eine Motion überwiesen, die Moskau auffordert, das Grenzgebiet wieder an Inguschetien zurückzugeben."

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

Tense situation at compact accommodation points (CAPs) in Ingushetia ("On the Situation of Residents of Chechnya in the Russian Federation (July 2005-July 2006)") [ID 17765]

For information on specific incidents please see the report

"Sudden passport checks keep the inhabitants of CAPs stressed out. Quite often detentions have been carried out with violations of the law and criminal cases being opened without any grounds."

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

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

03.08.2006 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Level of violence and arbitrary rule seen in Ingushetia is approaching the level of lawlessness in Chechnya; about 150 people have been put on the list of those kidnapped or gone missing since 2001 ("On the Situation of Residents of Chechnya in the Russian Federation (July 2005-July 2006)") [ID 18868]

For detailed information on the cases of Ali Kostoyev and Magomed Chakhkiyev, please see the report.

"On December 7, 2005, at around 3:00 p.m., between the villages of Nizhniy Chalky and Novy Redant, the Malgobek District of Ingushetia, officers from an unidentified security agency, who arrived from Chechnya, abducted a resident of the village of Nizhniye Achaluki Ali Suleimanovich Kostoyev. (....) On February 27, 2006, at around 6:00 p.m., official car of a Deputy of the People's Assem-bly Magomed Chakhkiyev, who is the father-in-law of the RI President Murat Zyazikov, was shot at near a stadium in the city of Nazran. As a result of the shooting attack, the car went out of control and crashed into the road barrier. The attackers pulled the driver out of the car and beat him until he became unconscious. (...)

On July 4, 2006, the Caucasian Knot Web-site posted a report about a commission been set up at the parliament of Ingushetia to investigate the violations of citizens’ rights and search the missing citizens. In addition to Deputies of the People's Assembly and representatives of execu-tive authorities, it also included members of the human rights organizations of Memorial HRC in Nazran, the independent non-commercial organization Mashr and the non-governmental organi-zation Vesta. According to the Ingush independent non-commercial organization Mashr, in the period since 2001 to date, about 150 people have been put on the list of those kidnapped or gone miss-ing on the territory of the Republic. At the present time, one of the main tasks of the commission is to verify the information about the existence of a mass grave in the village of Vesyoloye, the Mozdok District in North Ossetia, where the dead body of a resident of Ingushetia Uvais Dolakov, who had been abducted in the city of Nazran, was discovered earlier. "

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

03.08.2006 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Abducted residents of Ingushetia are increasingly often subsequently found in the SIZO of the city of Vladikavkaz, where required confessions are beaten out of them ("On the Situation of Residents of Chechnya in the Russian Federation (July 2005-July 2006)") [ID 18869]

For detailed information on the case of Dzhambulat Tasuyev please see the report.

"Abducted residents of Ingushetia are increasingly often subsequently found in the SIZO of the city of Vladikavkaz, where required confessions are beaten out of them. Appendix 18 details the circumstances of the detention and confinement in SIZO of M.I. Dzortov, who under torture signed a confession of involvement in the attack on Nazran and Karabulak on June 22, 2004. Below is another story of a man who was abducted in Nalchik, but was also taken to Vladi-kavkaz, to investigators Krivorotov and Solzhenitsyn, who are “experts” in beating out confes-sions. On March 27, 2006, the former resident of Chechnya Aiub Zhamilovich Tasuyev came to the office of Memorial HRC in Nazran with a written application. It follows from his application that on January 7, 2005, at 10:30 a.m., his son, Dzhambulat Aiubovich Tasuyev (born 1985), was abducted in the city of Nalchik by unknown armed men. He was taken away from the apartment where their family temporarily lived."

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

16.07.2004 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Ingushetia: UNHCR concerned about hostile reactions and pressure on internally displaced persons (IDPs) following the June 21 attack ("UNHCR concerned about IDP backlash after attack in Ingushetia") [#24127],  [ID 16784]

"The UN refugee agency has raised concerns about hostile reactions and pressure on internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ingushetia following the June 21 attack that killed some 90 people in the Russian republic. Some 50 IDPs were temporarily detained in the aftermath of the attack, but most of them have since been released. Five remain in detention, where they have been formally charged by the security services. [...] "It was reported that some local officials were applying heavy psychological pressure on IDPs to return home," said Redmond. "Local landowners, and in some cases local officials as well, threatened to evict IDPs from a number of settlements.""

Document(s): Open document

30.06.2004 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Ingushetia: Report of the Russian NGO "Memorial" on mop-up operations conducted by Chechen and Ingush OMON troops between 26-29 June in the Ingush towns of Karabulak and Sleptsovsk ("From the Conflict Zone. Bulletin of Human Rights Center "Memorial". Ingushetia – 26-29 June 2004") [#23730],  [ID 16786]

Document(s): Open document

23.06.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

Ingushetia because of worsening security situation no longer safe haven for displaced Chechens (""Normalization" in whose eyes?") [#23468],  [ID 11965]

"Human rights abuses which previously occurred almost exclusively in Chechnya are increasingly spreading across the border to neighbouring Ingushetia. While Ingushetia enjoyed the reputation as a safe haven for displaced Chechens during the first years of the war, this is no longer the case. During the first few months of 2004, there appeared to be an increase in the number of "disappearances" and killings in Ingushetia, and affecting Chechen as well as Ingush people."

Document(s): Open document

07.11.2003 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Abuses against IDPs in refugee camps in Ingushetia escalated dramatically in June 2003 during the so-called “mop-up” carried out by masked Russian forces , who subjected Chechen IDPs to forced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment and looted their property ("Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment") [#17377],  [ID 11967]

"Moreover, while serious human rights violations continue in Chechnya, the crisis has spilled over into
its neighboring republic. While abuses against internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been reported
throughout the existence of the refugee camps in Ingushetia, they escalated dramatically in June 2003
during the so-called “mop-up” carried out by masked Russian forces, who subjected Chechen IDPs to
forced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment and looted their property. According to reports, these
raids were carried out by pro-Moscow Chechen police under the control of Chechnya Administrator
Akhmad Kadyrov. The raids demonstrated a widening of the near four-year-long Chechnya conflict,
and violated international protection standards for IDPs. At least four persons disappeared during the
sweeps."

Document(s): Open document

07.11.2003 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Abuses against IDPs in refugee camps in Ingushetia escalated dramatically in June 2003 during the so-called “mop-up” carried out by masked Russian forces , who subjected Chechen IDPs to forced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment and looted their property ("Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment") [#17377],  [ID 11967]

"Moreover, while serious human rights violations continue in Chechnya, the crisis has spilled over into
its neighboring republic. While abuses against internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been reported
throughout the existence of the refugee camps in Ingushetia, they escalated dramatically in June 2003
during the so-called “mop-up” carried out by masked Russian forces, who subjected Chechen IDPs to
forced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment and looted their property. According to reports, these
raids were carried out by pro-Moscow Chechen police under the control of Chechnya Administrator
Akhmad Kadyrov. The raids demonstrated a widening of the near four-year-long Chechnya conflict,
and violated international protection standards for IDPs. At least four persons disappeared during the
sweeps."

Document(s): Open document

26.06.2003 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Ingushetia: Report on the security, in partcular regarding the situation of Chechen refugees ("Ingushetia- the Zone of "Stability and Security"?") [#19390],  [ID 16832]

"For three years and 8 months that the second Chechen war proceeded, Ingushetia remained a relatively secure region, where the military actions, with rare exceptions had not taken place. The President of the Republic Ingushetia, R. Aushev was the only regional leader who contradicting the order of General Shamanov allowed the forced migrants from the Chechen Republic enter his republic in 1999. In Ingushetia the civilians who fled from the bombing and artillery fire felt secure: war had not penetrated the territory of the republic. Probably the only significant armed clash between the federal forces and the combatant units of Chechen Republic Ichkeria occurred in autumn 2002, when the unit of Gelaev moved from Pankissi Gorge of Republic Georgia through the territory of Ingushetia. Obviously, during the second Chechen war the power agencies carried out recurrent special operations (some of the cases have been registered by Memorial in our Chronicle of Violence, see www.memo.ru ), however, these events had never acquired the scale and had allowed for such a high rates in human rights violations as was the case in the Chechen Republic. In early summer 2003 the situation changed. The summer in Ingushetia started with the “Chechen scenario” – with mop-up operations-“zachistki”. Importantly, the special operations were carried out not only in the places of compact settlement of the forced migrants, but in the Ingush villages as well. The Human Rights Center “Memorial” has no doubts that if the Russian power agencies possess information on the presence of the combatants on the territory of Ingushetia, they have the right to undertake operations for their detainment. However, as had previously been the case in Chechnya, in Ingushetia these operations were carried out violating the legislation of the Russian Federation, with serious violations of human rights. According to the information of HRC “Memorial”, only in the 14 days of 2003 in the Republic Ingushetia 8 persons were kidnapped, 11- detained, 1 civilian killed, 1 civilian injured. Above that, the instances of subjecting the houses of civilians to fire and looting by the personnel of power forces carrying out “zachistki” have been registered. Thus, the area of the so-called “anti-terrorist operation” has gradually expanded, now including Ingushetia. The special operations were generally carried out by the personnel of Russian power structures, dislocated in Chechnya and by the personnel of Chechen power structures, which received carte blanche for “cleansing out the combatants” from the neighboring republic. Below are some of the examples of “counter-terrorist operation” in the Republic Ingushetia."

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