04.2008 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Number of frequency of occurence of human rights violations are not ascertained, as human rights NGOs cannot work without impediments; often investigations on human rights violations are suspended at certain point ("Summary of the ACCORD-UNHCR Country of Origin Information Seminar on Chechnya; Vienna, 18 October 2007") [ID 22960]

"The best source to be consulted as to human rights violations is the European Court of Human Rights, which is addressed in cases of torture and mistreatments and has insight into how widespread these incidents still are.

Organisations like Human Rights Watch also well document human rights violations, but the number or frequency of occurrence of committed crimes are not ascertained. Due to the NGO law (see above), there are not many NGOs dealing with human rights protection, neither international nor Russian ones that can operate without impediments.

It is reported that often the investigations on human rights violations are suspended/stopped at a certain point. The reasons for suspensions vary, but the common one is that suspects are not mentally fit at the time when they commit the claimed acts. Military officials can be only brought to the military court which is not fully independent. It also occurs that the claimants are intimidated or even murdered or abducted."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Overview on human rights situation in 2007 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22588]

"The government's human rights record remained poor in the North Caucasus, where the government in Chechnya forcibly reined in the Islamist insurgency that replaced the separatist insurgency in Chechnya as the main source of conflict. Government security forces were allegedly involved in unlawful killings, politically motivated abductions, and disappearances in Chechnya, Ingushetiya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus. Disappearances and kidnappings in Chechnya declined, as Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov established authoritarian and repressive control over the republic, and federal forces withdrew. Federal and local security forces continued to act with impunity, especially in targeting families of suspected insurgents, and there were allegations that Kadyrov's private militia engaged in kidnapping and torture. In the neighboring republics of Ingushetiya and Dagestan, there was an increase in violence and abuses committed by security forces."

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

Rule of law is extremely weak, serious crimes are rarely investigated; civilians are subject to harassment and violence, including torture, rape and extrajudicial execution; Russian troops engage in so-called mopping-up operations ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20660]

"The rule of law is extremely weak. Extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and other serious crimes are rarely investigated and even more rarely prosecuted. There has been some progress in a few high-profile cases. After juries in the Russian city of Rostov twice refused to convict Captain Eduard Ulman and three other members of a Russian Military Intelligence (GRU) special unit for killing six Chechens in January 2002 even though they had admitted to the slayings, the Constitutional Court ruled in April 2006 that a military tribunal would hear their case. Jury trials are set to be introduced in Chechnya in 2007, allowing Chechen juries to hear cases against people accused of committing crimes in the republic. The European Court of Human Rights has stepped in when Russian courts refuse to hear cases. In July 2006, the Strasbourg-based court found Colonel General Aleksandr Baranov, currently the commander of Russian military forces in the North Caucasus, responsible for the disappearance and presumed death of Khadzhi-Murat Yandiyev, a prisoner detained in Chechnya in 2000. The decision was the first on a disappearance in Chechnya and could open the way for similar cases. Memorial estimates that as many as 5,000 people have vanished during the second Chechen war and notes that the problem is not being addressed by the authorities. In November, the Court found Russia responsible for the disappearances and presumed death of an additional three individuals in Chechnya.

The Chechen police forces are led by commanders who have allegedly committed murder and abductions. Civilians are subject to harassment and violence, including torture, rape, and extrajudicial execution, at the hands of Russian soldiers, and senior Russian military authorities have disregarded such abuses. Human rights groups report that while disappearances had previously been concentrated in Chechnya, the practice has now spread to neighboring Ingushetia. Chechen rebels have captured Russian soldiers during combat, enslaving them, trading them among themselves, and ultimately selling them back to their families.

Russian troops engage in so-called mopping-up operations in which they seal off entire towns and conduct house-to-house searches for suspected rebels. During these security sweeps, soldiers have been accused of beating and torturing civilians, looting, and extorting money. Thousands of Chechens have gone missing or been found dead after such operations."

Document(s): Open document

22.11.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

According to report by Memorial and International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Chechen and Russian security forces act with impunity in Chechnya; hostage-taking, kidnapping and torture widespread ("Chechnya Under Reign Of Terror, Say Rights Groups") [ID 17708]

"A joint dossier compiled by Russia's Memorial rights group and the France-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said Chechen and Russian security forces acted with impunity in Chechnya, where 143 people have been abducted this year so far. Some 54 are still missing. Svetlana Ganushkina of Memorial told a Paris news conference that the abuse of human rights in Russia is "not an accident, it is not the exception, it is not a lapse, but the rule.""

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

In 2005 conflict in Chechnya continued with grave human rights violations including war crimes committed by Chechen and federal security forces ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 17494]

"Der Konflikt in Tschetschenien ging weiterhin mit schweren Menschenrechtsverletzungen einschließlich Kriegsverbrechen seitens tschetschenischer und föderaler Einheiten einher. Dazu zählten das »Verschwindenlassen« von Personen, extralegale Hinrichtungen, Folterungen, willkürliche Festnahmen sowie Inhaftierungen ohne Kontakt zur Außenwelt in zum Teil inoffiziellen Einrichtungen. Tschetschenische Sicherheitskräfte unter ihrem Befehlshaber Ramsan Kadirow, dem Ersten Stellvertretenden Ministerpräsidenten der Republik Tschetschenien, und Einheiten der föderalen Truppen, in deren Reihen ethnische Tschetschenen kämpften, wurden zunehmend mit willkürlichen Folterungen und dem »Verschwindenlassen« von Menschen in Verbindung gebracht. Hochrangige Vertreter Tschetscheniens wie etwa Präsident Alu Alchanow sollen einräumt haben, dass sowohl föderale als auch tschetschenische Sicherheitskräfte für das »Verschwinden« von Menschen Verantwortung tragen. Darüber hinaus wurden Häftlinge ohne Kontakt zur Außenwelt an zum Teil geheimen Orten in Gewahrsam gehalten. Familien »verschwundener« Personen organisierten in Tschetschenien Demonstrationen, um ihrer Forderung nach Aufklärung von Schicksal und Verbleib ihrer Angehörigen Nachdruck zu verleihen. Frauen sahen sich Berichten zufolge geschlechtsspezifischer Gewalt einschließlich Vergewaltigung und deren Androhung durch Angehörige tschetschenischer und föderaler Einheiten ausgesetzt. Bewaffnete Oppositionsgruppen der Tschetschenen sollen ihrerseits für Kriegsverbrechen wie etwa gezielte Anschläge gegen Zivilpersonen verantwortlich gewesen sein."

Document(s): Open document

15.03.2006 - Source: Council of Europe - Commissioner for Human Rights

Chechnya: Report on a fact finding mission of the Human Rights Commissioner: Main problems remain security situation, disappearances and impunity; there is strong suspicion that beside criminal gangs and separatist combatants also members of the Chechen security forces are responsible for disappearances ("Report by Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human Rights, on his visit to the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, 25-26 February 2006 [CommDH(2006) 4]") [#46674],  [ID 15990]

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Human rights violations commited by federal forces, pro-Moscow Chechen forces and Chechen rebels; victims fear to give testimony ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 15991]

"During the year unrest continued in and around the Northern Caucasus republic of Chechnya. Federal forces and pro-Moscow Chechen forces engaged in human rights violations, including torture, summary executions, disappearances, and arbitrary detentions. Chechen rebels also committed human rights violations, including major acts of terrorism and summary executions. Federal authorities - both military and civilian - have limited journalists' and human rights observers' access to war zones since the beginning of the second war in Chechnya in 1999, in part due to security concerns. In addition coverage has been restricted in government-controlled media, and the government has sought to pressure independent journalists into engaging in self-censorship (see sections 2.a. and 4). These restrictions made independent observation of conditions and verification of reports difficult and limited the available sources of information about the conflict. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported in March that Chechnya was gripped by a climate of fear that witnesses described as "worse than war." HRW noted that victims of human rights abuses and their relatives were increasingly reluctant to speak to human rights monitors or to file complaints with the authorities because they feared further persecution, a fear HRW had not previously encountered. Despite these obstacles, however, human rights groups with staff in the region continued to release credible reports of human rights abuses committed during the year."

Document(s): Open document

25.01.2006 - Source: ReliefWeb

Resolution 1479 of Council of Europe on human rights violations in Chechnya ("Human rights violations in the Chechen Republic: the Committee of Ministers' responsibility vis-à-vis the Assembly's concerns - Resolution 1479 (2006) (Council of Europe)") [#42925],  [ID 15992]

Document(s): Open document

20.01.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Human rights abuses are continuing in Chechnya and neighbouring republics of North Caucasus ("Council of Europe must take action to ensure real change for human rights [EUR 46/002/2006]") [#42576],  [ID 15993]

"Human rights abuses including “disappearances” and abductions, torture, arbitrary detention and incommunicado detention in unacknowledged as well as official places of detention are continuing in Chechnya and neighbouring republics in the North Caucasus. Such violations are overwhelmingly committed with impunity, as very few perpetrators are ever identified and brought to justice. While official statistics vary, most recently in December 2005, Lema Khasuev, the Ombudsman in the Chechen Republic stated that there are 2096 cases of enforced “disappearance” by unidentified security forces in Chechnya.i However, Amnesty International is aware of only one conviction in connection with a “disappearance” in Chechnya, that of Sergei Lapin, convicted in March 2005 of torturing Zelimkhan Murdalov; Zelimkhan Murdalov subsequently “disappeared”."

Document(s): Open document

21.12.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

Chechnya: Report on human rights violations since 2004 (unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and illegal detention, hostage-takings, reprisals against applicants to the ECHR, harassment of human rights defenders) ("Human rights violations in the Chechen Republic: the Committee of Ministers’ responsibility vis-à-vis the Assembly's concerns [Doc. 10774]") [#41209],  [ID 15994]

Document(s): Open document

11.2005 - Source: Gesellschaft für Bedrohte Völker

Human rights situation in Chechnya still disastrous ("Schleichender Völkermord in Tschetschenien") [#41300],  [ID 15995]

"Die Menschenrechtlage in Tschetschenien ist nach wie vor katastrophal, wie die Chronik im Anhang verdeutlicht. Das Verschwindenlassen von Zivilisten, Personen, die verdächtigt werden, auf der tschetschenischen Seite zu kämpfen, bzw. von deren Angehörigen ist an der Tagesordnung. Für die Betroffenen wird es immer schwieriger, zwischen den einzelnen Tätergruppen zu unterscheiden, was die Suche nach den Verschwundenen lange und kompliziert macht. In einigen Fällen sind auch kriminelle Banden bzw. Blutrachevorfälle verantwortlich für Morde oder Verschwindenlassen. Ansonsten sollen nach Angaben von Menschenrechtsorganisationen wie Memorial und Amnesty International die „Kadyrowzy“ für zwei Drittel der Menschenrechtsverletzungen verantwortlich sein. Auch Angehörige tschetschenischer Kampfeinheiten liquidieren immer wieder Personen, die in der pro-russischen Verwaltung arbeiten bzw. zur pro-russischen Miliz übergewechselt sind. Vielfach sind diese Milizionäre in abgelegenen Dörfern stationiert, wo sie leicht zur Zielscheibe von tschetschenischen Kämpfern werden können. „Verschwundene“ werden in illegalen Haftanstalten wie den Kellern von Polizeistationen, so genannten Filtrationslagern, in ausrangierten Zugwaggons, der russischen Militärbasis in Khankala und regulären Gefängnissen festgehalten. Über die tatsächlichen Haftbedingungen oder das Schicksal einzelner Inhaftierter liegen sehrwenige Informationen vor. Vacha Banjaew, der Vorsitzende der Organisation für die Filtrationshäftlinge, zählt in einer Dokumentation 22 Orte auf, an denen die Menschen festgehalten werden. Er gibt an, dass mehr als 30.000 Personen in Filtrationslagern festgehalten wurden bzw. noch werden. Er hat darüber hinaus die Namen von 248 Männern zusammengestellt, die nach ihren Abschiebungen nach Russland, z.B. aus Polen, Tschechien und der Slowakei, verhaftet und in diesen Lagern interniert wurden. In der Chronik der Menschenrechtsverletzungen befinden sich auch Nachrichten über zahlreiche Leichenfunde an den Rändern von Dörfern. Die Leichen tragen häufig Folterspuren bzw. es wird berichtet, dass sie durch das Anbringen von Sprengstoff zerfetzt worden seien. Leichen aus mindestens 50 Massengräbern in Tschetschenien wurden noch nicht geborgen."

Document(s): Open document

01.07.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Human rights violations in the context of the armed conflict in the Chechen Republic: arbitrary detention, "disappearences", killings, torture and other human right violations ("Russian Federation: Violations continue, no justice in sight. A briefing paper on human rights violations in the context of the armed conflict in the Chechen Republic") [#36615],  [ID 15996]

Document(s): Open document

19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Chechnya: All sides of the conflict engaged in serious abuses against civilians ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2005 (Events 2004)") [#32117],  [ID 15997]

"All sides of the conflict engaged in serious abuses against civilians. In a development that can be characterized as a “Chechenization” of the conflict, local armed formations loyal to Moscow increasingly engaged in raids against civilians and arbitrarily detained and abducted local residents. In particular, troops led by the Chechen Vice-Premier Ramzan Kadyrov, son of the late President Akhmad Kadyrov (so-called “Kadyrovtsi”), as well as semi-autonomous groups operating under them perpetrated such abuses. These groups reportedly acted in close cooperation with the FSB. The activities of pro-Moscow armed formations caused widespread fear among the local population."

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Report focused on human righst violations in Chechnya and Ingushetia, disappearances, continued lack of accountability and denial of access for international monitors ("Russian Federation/Chechnya: Human Rights Concerns for the 61st Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights") [#29921],  [ID 15998]

Document(s): Open document

14.02.2005 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Information bulletin January 2005 based on the results of monitoring of human rights abuses in the armed conflict zone in the Chechen Republic, the Republic of Ingushetia and Republic of North Ossetia-Alania by HRC Memorial ("From the conflict zone: Bulletin of human rights center “Memorial” - January 2005 (the issue prepared by HRC “Memorial” in Nazran)") [#29892],  [ID 15999]

Document(s): Open document

13.01.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Annual report on human rights situation in 2004 ("World report 2005") [#28224],  [ID 16001]

Document(s): Open document

10.01.2005 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Information bulletin December 2004 based on the results of monitoring of human rights abuses in the armed conflict zone in the Chechen Republic and Prigorodny District of North Ossetia by HRC Memorial ("From the conflict zone: Bulletin of human rights center “Memorial” - December 2004 (the issue prepared by HRC “Memorial” in Nazran)") [#28675],  [ID 16002]

Document(s): Open document

10.12.2004 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Information bulletin November 2004 based on the results of monitoring of human rights abuses in the armed conflict zone in the Chechen Republic and the neighbouring Republics of Ingushetia and North Ossetia by HRC Memorial ("From the conflict zone: Bulletin of human rights center “Memorial” - November 2004 (the issue prepared by HRC “Memorial” in Nazran)") [#28673],  [ID 16003]

Document(s): Open document

10.11.2004 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Information bulletin October 2004 based on the results of monitoring of human rights abuses in the armed conflict zone in the Chechen Republic and the neighbouring Republics of Ingushetia and North Ossetia by HRC Memorial ("From the conflict zone: Bulletin of human rights center “Memorial” - October 2004 (the issue prepared by HRC “Memorial” in Nazran)") [#28677],  [ID 16004]

Document(s): Open document

16.09.2004 - Source: ReliefWeb

Chechnya: massive human rights violations (murder, forced disappearances, torture, hostage-taking, rape and arbitrary detention) are continuing ("The human rights situation in the Chechen Republic remains catastrophic: Draft resolution and draft recommendation (COE)") [#25683],  [ID 16005]

Document(s): Open document

08.07.2004 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Persons in Chechnya with hight risk of becoming victims of raids, abduction, torture or killings ("Tschetschenische Asylsuchende: Positionspapier der Schweizerischen Flüchtlingshilfe") [#24067],  [ID 16007]

"Insbesondere folgende Personen haben ein hohes Risiko, zum Ziel von Razzien, Geiselnahmen, willkürlichen Festnahmen, Folter und Tötungen zu werden: 1.1 In Tschetschenien • Personen, die verdächtigt werden, mit den Separatisten zusammenzuarbeiten, mit ihnen zu sympathisieren oder die mit ihnen verwandt sind. • MenschenrechtsaktivistInnen, JournalistInnen und Personen, die bereits einmal ins Visier von Polizei und Militär geraten sind. • Männer im wehrfähigen Alter. Zu ihnen rechnet das russische Militär nicht nur die 18- bis 27-jährigen Männer, sondern Jungen im Alter von 15 Jahren wie auch bis zu fünfzigjährige Männer. • Deserteure und Refraktäre. Sie stehen im Verdacht, auf der Seite der Separatisten zu kämpfen. • Angehörige der Separatistenbewegungen. Bei ihnen ist im Einzelfall die Frage der Asylunwürdigkeit zu prüfen, da sich auch diese Gruppierungen schwere Menschenrechtsverletzungen haben zuschulden kommen lassen."

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 16008]

Document(s): Open document

23.06.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

Report on the human rights crisis in the Chechen Republic and Ingushetia: extrajudicial killings, "disappearances", targeting of women, torture and ill-treatment, IDPs, deteriorating of human rights in Ingushetia (""Normalization" in whose eyes?") [#23468],  [ID 16009]

Documentation of cases of disappearances

"During its recent mission to the North Caucasus Amnesty International met with a large number of people, who provided information about cases of “disappearances”. Nearly everyone Amnesty International spoke to had lost a close relative this way and had faced a wall of silence when trying to obtain information from the authorities. Again and again relatives said: “If he/she has committed a crime, bring him/her to justice, but tell me where he/she is”. Figures for the numbers of “disappeared” in Chechnya are difficult to verify; the findings of human rights organizations working in the area differ from statements made by the authorities 5 as do the explanations about what has happened to those whose fate and whereabouts are unknown to their relatives."

Document(s): Open document

24.05.2004 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Situation von Tschetschenen in der Russischen Föderation. ("Tschetschenien und die tschetschenische Bevölkerung in der Russischen Föderation ") [#23046],  [ID 16010]

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03.05.2004 - Source: Norwegian Helsinki Committee

Informationspapier zur Menschenrechtslage in Inguschetien und zur Situation von ethnisch inguschetischen Asylsuchenden ("Briefing Paper on the Human Rights Crisis in Ingushetia and Ethnic Ingush Asylum Seekers") [#22488],  [ID 16011]

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08.04.2004 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Report focused on the situation in Chechnya and Ingushetia (enforced disappearances, rape, torture, and extrajudicial executions) ("The Situation in Chechnya and Ingushetia Deteriorates") [#21197],  [ID 16012]

"Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, and Memorial, call on the government of the Russian Federation to take immediate steps to bring an end to the human rights abuses in Chechnya and Ingushetia. [...] Chechnya In early 2004, Russian troops and Chechen fighters continued to commit serious human rights violations on a regular basis in Chechnya. However, a new and increasingly militant armed group under the command of the son of Chechnya’s President Akhmad Kadyrov, popularly known as the Kadyrovtsy, are blamed for an increasing portion of the “disappearances” and many Chechens say they fear the Kadyrovtsy more than federal troops. According to Memorial, which systematically monitors the situation in approximately one third of Chechnya’s territory, in the first quarter of 2004, 78 people were abducted in Chechnya, 41 of whom subsequently "disappeared." At least 30 civilians died as a result of the armed conflict in the same period. Some recent abuses documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Memorial include: At 2:00 a.m. on March 18, 2004, masked men in camouflage uniforms entered the home of the Khambulatov family in the village of Naurskaya in Northern Chechnya and detained twenty-four-year-old Timur Khambulatov. According to relatives, the intruders identified themselves as officials of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and said that they were taking Timur Khambulatov to the local police station on suspicion of belonging to an illegal armed group. Later that morning, Timur Khambulatov died in custody. Video footage of his dead body, which Memorial obtained from relatives, showed a mutilated corpse with marks that were consistent with previously reported evidence of torture. [...] In a report to be released next week, Thursday April 15, 2004, the British charity Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture provides the first-ever substantial body of reliable evidence on the use of rape in the armed conflict in Chechnya. [...] During assessment and treatment, sixteen women and one man disclosed rape to clinicians at the Medical Foundation. In thirteen of these cases, the alleged perpetrators were Russian soldiers, in three cases they were said to beRussian police officers, and in one Chechen rebels. [...] All rape survivors were interviewed by professionals with years of experience interviewing victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence. The Medical Foundation found their testimony reliable and consistent with that of other rape survivors. [...] The Situation of Internally Displaced Persons The Russian government continues to pressure thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in tent camps in Ingushetia into returning to Chechnya, ignoring their well-founded fears about the security situation there. [...] The researchers also found that the Russian government is failing to meet its promise to compensate returning IDPs for lost property. The Situation in Ingushetia The human rights violations that have long been the hallmark of the Chechnya conflict are increasingly spilling over into Ingushetia. Memorial has received dozens of reports of “disappearances” in 2004 alone. Human rights groups have also documented a number of summary executions in recent months and attacks against civilians resulting in deaths and serious injuries. Serious human rights violations documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Memorial during recent research in Ingushetia, include: On March 11, 2004, armed men stopped the car of Rashid Ozdoev, an Ingush deputy prosecutor, near the village of Verkhnye Achaluki and detained him. Witnesses have told his relatives that he was first taken to FSB headquarters in Magas, the capital of Ingushetia, and was then transferred to the Russian military base at Khankala in Chechnya, where he is being held under a different name. The procuracy of Ingushetia opened a criminal case into the abduction on March 15, but to date there has been no official confirmation of his whereabouts. According to relatives, Rashid Ozdoev had been involved in investigating unlawful activity by the FSB. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

02.02.2004 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Reports of torture, disappearances, summary executions, rape, forced evictions, and other forms of ill treatment perpetrated by the Russian armed forces are common news in the Chechen Republic ("Position paper of the world organisation against torture") [#19099],  [ID 16013]

"OMCT is gravely concerned about the continuing conflict in Chechnya. Over the past decade, the republic of Chechnya has suffered through two wars, both of which were characterised by severe human rights violations perpetrated by Russian armed forces as well as Chechen rebel groups. These abuses continue in the present day. Reports of torture, disappearances, summary executions, rape, forced evictions, and other forms of ill treatment perpetrated by the Russian armed forces are common news in the Chechen Republic. The city of Grozny remains in ruins, with no effort having been made to reconstruct hospitals, apartment buildings, schools, or other fundamental structures. There is an enormous amount of documentation attesting to the widespread nature of torture in Chechnya, but at the same time, many stories have not been heard because the victims of torture are also frequently disappeared. The dead bodies of persons who have been detained frequently show traces of torture. Common forms of torture include severe beatings, extensive use of electro-shock, including electro-shock to the genitals, and mutilation such as cutting off the victim’s ear. Victims of torture, like all residents of Chechnya, are afraid to go to the hospital for treatment because of frequent military searches of hospitals. In the face of the horrors faced by Chechen people on a daily basis, the Russian government has been claiming that the situation in Chechnya is “normalised.” In March 2003, a constitutional referendum was organised, which approved a constitution establishing Chechnya as an autonomous Republic within the Russian Federation. However, the legitimacy of the referendum has been seriously doubted. Although violence perpetrated by Russian state agents appeared to decrease immediately before the referendum, once the vote had taken place, the Russian armed forces and other state agents committed human rights abuses with renewed force."

Document(s): Open document

10.09.2003 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Chechnya: report focused on the human rights situation in the period following the Constitutional Referendum ( forced disappearances, killings, torture, indiscriminate attacks on populated areas, persecution of witnesses and human rights defenders) ("Still in a State of Terror - Chechnya after the Referendum") [#15982],  [ID 16016]

Document(s): Open document