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

Chechen women who have lost their husbands or have been divorced usually go back to their own families; widows or divorced women may be remarried, but normally they are considered 'second class women'; domestic violence is considered private issue and is hardly ever reported ("Summary of the ACCORD-UNHCR Country of Origin Information Seminar on Chechnya; Vienna, 18 October 2007") [ID 22961]

"Single women who apply for asylum in European countries often do so with the argument that they have lost their husbands and cannot live unaffiliated in Chechen society.

According to the experience of UNHCR regarding single women and their protection by the state, it is generally true that people rely very much on their relatives for support. If they are ethnic Chechens, women who have lost their husbands or have been divorced usually go back to their own families and are protected to a certain extent. But this does not necessarily mean that they will be able to lead a normal life devoid of specific difficulties like property issues, housing, childcare etc. Widows or divorced women may be remarried by their relatives, but normally they are considered 'second class women' and thus not very popular brides. In the case of divorce, tradition demands that the children stay with the family of the husband. These practices are not observed by everybody these days. While traditionally problems in the family are being settled by elder family members, there are couples these days that go through courts to settle problems, such as the custody of children in dispute at the time of divorce. General court practice is to give the custody to mothers. Also, there are widows/ divorced women who do not return to their family, but live on their own. All depends on individual situations.

Domestic violence is considered a private issue related to the clan structure of the regional society and therefore is hardly ever reported to UNHCR or other institutions. Usually such cases are solved under the terms of cultural traditions, which make it difficult to tell how widespread this problem actually is. The usual way to deal with rape or kidnapping of young women is to marry the couple and not to consider the act as a crime any more. But nevertheless, UNHCR has had a few cases the last two years."

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

With rise of Ramzan Kadyrov, women face increased discrimination in male-dominated culture ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20661]

"With the rise of Ramzan Kadyrov, who emphasizes traditional values, women face increased discrimination in this Islamic, male-dominated culture. At the same time, the war has resulted in many women becoming the primary breadwinners for their families."

Document(s): Open document

24.03.2006 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Chechnya: Prime Minister Kadyrov urges women to wear headscarves; fears by human rights activists that Sharia law is one step closer ("Chechen Leader Urges Women to Cover Up") [#47436],  [ID 16107]

"Presenters on Chechnya’s main television channel, who until recently sported fashionable hairstyles, have since mid-March worn modest headscarves, as have government workers and students. The government denies the headscarves are either mandatory or part of official policy, saying Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov was merely expressing his personal opinion when he told journalists recently that women should cover their heads. "Kadyrov just reminded people that according to centuries-old Chechen tradition, women had their heads covered and men wore papakhas [fur hats]," explained First Deputy Prime Minister Odes Baisultanov in an interview with the Russian RIA-Novosti news agency. Kadyrov himself told the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, "I only said that women look more chaste in headscarves. Orthodox Christian women, for example, cannot enter a church without headscarves. Why should this be seen as normal for Orthodox Christians but not [Chechen] Muslims?" But Chechen women are taking Kadyrov’s suggestion as writ, and few will take the chance of appearing without a headscarf for fear of losing their jobs. Kadyrov is the leader of a powerful pro-Moscow militia group who was recently appointed as Chechen prime minister. His security forces have been accused by human rights groups of abductions, extra-judicial killings and torture - charges he has denied. His recent remarks have generated much public debate, especially as the Islamic traditions he is appealing to are more commonly associated with his mortal enemies in the Chechen rebel movement. Some women like Satsita Israilova, director of the central city library in Grozny, are firmly against the headscarf. Others like Aza Gazieva, a Ministry of National Policy official, agree with the prime minister about the importance of preserving Chechen traditions. However, she believes the decision to wear a headscarf or not should be an individual one. "Headscarves have always been an integral part of [Chechen] women’s costume," she said. "It is every woman's personal business whether to wear a headscarf or not, and each family should decide this for itself.” The headscarf issue is only part of a wider morality campaign pursued by Kadyrovin recent months."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Federal and Chechen security forces increasingly targeted female civilians in response to terrorist bombings and to pressure suspected rebels ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 16108]

"AI reported federal and Chechen security forces increasingly targeted female civilians, both in response to terrorist bombings carried out by Chechen women and to put pressure on male relatives suspected of being rebels. According to AI security forces detained 70-year-old Maret Khutsaeva and her teenaged granddaughter on May 10. Armed men in camouflage, without masks and speaking Chechen, arrived at her home and reportedly asked her where her son Arbi Khutsayev was. The two were held for one day and released on the condition that Khutsayev give himself up, with the warning that they would be detained again if he did not do so. Security forces also detained Natasha Khumadova, the sister of Chechen field commander Doku Umarov. The whereabouts of Milana Ozdoyeva, whom the security forces questioned twice in January 2004 about her alleged plans to become a suicide bomber, were unknown. In January 2004 several men entered her house and took her away, leaving her two children behind."

Document(s): Open document

07.11.2005 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Increase in abductions of women and girls in 2005 ("Tschetschenien: Update: Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien, Inguschetien, Dagestan und anderen Teilen der Russischen Föderation") [#38928],  [ID 16109]

"Im Jahr 2005 hat die Zahl insbesondere entführter junger Frauen und Mädchen laut einem Artikel der Zeitung Cecenskoe obšcestvo, der sich auf Angaben von «Memorial» stützt, wieder stark zugenommen. Die Entführungen laufen offenbar immer nach demselben Schema ab: Bis zu den Zähnen bewaffnete Männer in Kampfanzügen fahren in den Siedlungen vor, zerren junge Frauen aus den Häusern und fahren mit ihnen davon. Einige der Opfer werden in der Folge tot aufgefunden, andere bleiben spurlos verschwunden.37"

Document(s): Open document

11.2005 - Source: Gesellschaft für Bedrohte Völker

More premature births and births of disabled children because of bad health of mothers; many preagnant women who have cancer ("Schleichender Völkermord in Tschetschenien") [#41300],  [ID 16110]

"Nach Recherchen des „Institute for War and Peace Reporting“ (IWPR) kommt mehr als die Hälfte aller Neugeborenen in Grosny krank auf die Welt (IWPR, 20.10.2005). Danach gibt es immer mehr Frühgeburten und Geburten von behinderten Kindern. Ein Grund dafür ist, dass es an Frauen- und Kinderärzten fehlt. Die Hauptursache ist jedoch der schlechte Gesundheitszustand der Mütter. Der tschetschenische Gesundheitsminister gibt an, dass mehr als 70% der Mütter schwere Krankheiten haben. Armut, schlechte Ernährung, Arbeitslosigkeit und eine extrem hohe Umweltverschmutzung sind dafür verantwortlich. Die Zahl an Krebserkrankungen bei Schwangeren in und um Grosny ist zum Beispiel stark angestiegen. Dies wird auch darauf zurückgeführt, dass radioaktive Abfälle im Dorf Tolstoj-Jurt nahe Grosny ungesichert lagern. Die Krankheitsrate in Schali und Gudermes, wo Bombardierungen sehr intensiv waren, ist besonders hoch. Viele Menschen in Tschetschenien leben davon, dass sie illegal Öl zapfen und dieses Rohöl verkaufen. Auf Frauen sind an dieser sehr gesundheitsschädigenden Arbeit beteiligt. Die Dämpfe können zu Geisteskrankheiten von ungeborenen Kindern führen. Die Kinder werden anämisch und bringen schwache Kinder zur Welt, so eine Ärztin im IWPR Artikel. In Tschetschenien gibt es nach Angaben der Chefärztin des Aidszentrums in Grosny im Moment 600 registrierte Aidskranke. (Es liegen keine Zahlen über die Gesamtbevölkerung der Republik vor. Schätzungen gehen von etwa700.000 bis 800.000 Personen aus. Aids war bis etwa im Jahr 2000 in Tschetschenien vollkommen Diese Zahl von 600 Fällen schließt Frauen und 32 Kinder mit ein. Während 2003 noch hat sich diese Zahl versiebenfacht. Da jedoch nur 15% der Bevölkerung Aidstests gemacht angenommen werden, dass die tatsächliche Zahl der Infizierten nochmals höher liegt. Wie die Chefärztin mitteilte, werden die Tests aus finanziellen Gründen jedoch bald gestoppt werden, so dass der Infizierten nicht ermittelt werden kann (Prague Watchdog, 17.10.2005)."

Document(s): Open document

08.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Women still discriminated in traditional, male-dominated culture, but as result of war many women became primary breadwinners for families ("Freedom in the World 2005") [#41619],  [ID 16111]

"While women continue to face discrimination in a traditional, male-dominated culture, the war has resulted in many women becoming the primary breadwinners for their families. Russian soldiers reportedly rape Chechen women in areas controlled by federal forces. Increasing numbers of women were reported to have been abducted and have disappeared."

Document(s): Open document

05.07.2005 - Source: ReliefWeb

Chechnya: 13 women abducted and 9 went missing in past 2 months ("Spate of abductions of women in Chechnya (PW)") [#33647],  [ID 16112]

Document(s): Open document

19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

According to Prosecutor's office until April 2003 only two convictions for rape; guilty servicemen were only given suspended prison sentences ("Impunity: A Leading Force behind Continued Massive Violations in Chechnya") [#32124],  [ID 16113]

"In the data presented by the Prosecutor’s office to then Duma deputy Kovalev in April 2003, there was information about two convictions for rape. However, the two guilty servicemen were only given suspended prison sentences. •The enlisted serviceman O. was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment (with a 5 year probation period). On 29 August 2001, he had raped the Chechen citizen A. Dambaeva in the house of her family and has openly stolen a worth of 1,500 Rubles. The military court applied articles 131, part 1 (rape), and 161, part 2 (robbery). •The warrant officer Ch. was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment (with a 5 year probation period). On 10 March 2001 he had raped I. Ivchenko in the premises of the barracks under construction. The military court applied article 131, part 1 (rape)."

Document(s): Open document

24.12.2004 - Source: ReliefWeb

Chechnya: 2 women involved in many terrorist attacks over the past few years, arbitrarily detained and tortured following targeted operations by Russian special forces ("Chechen women 'detained and tortured': UN (AFP)") [#27871],  [ID 16114]

Document(s): Open document

17.11.2004 - Source: Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

Under-18s, particularly girls, used in suicide bombings by Chechen armed groups ("Child soldiers global report 2004") [#27189],  [ID 16115]

"Chechen armed groups reportedly used under-18s, particularly girls, in suicide bombings. In May 2003 prosecutors announced the arrest of a woman and a 16-year-old girl in Chechnya’s Shatoi district in connection with the recruitment of women and girls involved in the October 2002 Moscow theatre siege, who reportedly included a 16 year old.33 At the end of 2002 a man and his 15-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son reportedly carried out a suicide attack in Chechnya’s capital, Grozny.34 In September 2003 women were reported to be training in the Vedeno region for such bomb attacks, among them a 15-year-old girl who was being “prepared” by an older man."

Document(s): Open document

23.06.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

Increase in the targeting of women by Russian and Chechen security forces (""Normalization" in whose eyes?") [#23468],  [ID 16116]

"Throughout the second armed conflict in Chechnya mainly Chechen men and boys have been targeted during so-called filtration11 or have been “disappeared” during raids conducted by security forces on their villages or districts 12. During interviews in March 2004 several mothers told Amnesty International’s delegates that they would not let their sons or husbands join them in protests against the “disappearance” of family members, as they were afraid this would result in further retaliation. However, it is not only men who have been targeted. During the first period of the current armed conflict Amnesty International has documented several cases of Chechen women who had been subjected to torture, including rape, and ill-treatment, or “disappearances” by members of the armed forces.13 A significant number of Chechen women were among the hostage-takers during the hostage-taking incident in a theatre in Moscow in October 2002 and since then, several Chechen women have reportedly been involved in suicide bombings against targets in the North Caucasus as well as in Moscow. This appears to have resulted in an increase in the targeting of women in the Chechen Republic by Russian and Chechen security forces."

Document(s): Open document

24.05.2004 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Number of women being victims of special operations by Russian security forces increased ("Tschetschenien und die tschetschenische Bevölkerung in der Russischen Föderation ") [#23046],  [ID 16117]

"Insbesondere Intellektuelle und Verantwortungsträger werden von beiden Seiten unter Druck gesetzt. Die Widerstandskämpfer töten sie wegen Kollaboration und die russischen und tschetschenischen Sicherheitskräfte, weil sie sich für die einheimische Bevölkerung einsetzten.52 Verhältnismässig neu ist, dass auch Frauen Opfer von Säuberungen werden. Waren es früher nur Männer, die der Zusammenarbeit mit den Widerstandskämpfern verdächtigt wurden, so werden nun auch Frauen gejagt. Dies geht einerseits auf das Auftauchen der erwähnten Selbstmordattentäterinnen zurück. Andererseits werden in letzter Zeit auch Menschenrechtlerinnen bzw. ihre MitarbeiterInnen und Verwandten verfolgt. Irena Brežná beobachtet allgemein in letzter Zeit eine zunehmende Individualisierung der Verfolgung derjenigen, die sich gegen Verbrechen auflehnen, die humanitäre Hilfe leisten und die nicht mit den Behörden kollaborieren wollen.53"

Document(s): Open document

14.04.2004 - Source: Jamestown Foundation

Chechnya: FSB reportedly targets widows whose husbands died at Russian's hands and therefore might, in theory, become terrorists in the future; Memorial has reported ten such kidnappings in January alone ("Russian Security Agency Reportedly Targeting Widows / Chechnya Weekly, Volume 5 Issue 15 (Apr 14, 2004)") [#21648],  [ID 16118]

"Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB; the renamed KGB) appears now to be using a new, stunningly self-defeating tactic to try to forestall possible terrorist attacks: kidnapping widows of Chechen men already killed by those same agencies. A handful of such widows have become suicide bombers, and the FSB is now seizing women for no reason other than that they are widows and therefore might, in theory, become terrorists in the future. According to an April 8 article by Julius Strauss of the London Daily Telegraph, the Russian human rights center Memorial has reported ten such kidnappings in January alone."

Document(s): Open document

10.04.2004 - Source: Prima News

Chechnya: Young woman kidnapped in village of Tolstoy-Yurt ("A young woman kidnapped in the Grozny region") [#21338],  [ID 16119]

"On the night of April 9 in the village of Tolstoy-Yurt in the Grozny region armed forces in masks and camouflage kidnapped a young woman. [...] Threatening physical force, they pulled the daughter of the mistress of the house, 29 year old Zara, out onto the street and forcibly placed her inside one of the cars and drove off in an unknown direction. The motives of the crime are unknown. The fate of the woman had yet to be ascertained."

Document(s): Open document

01.04.2004 - Source: Prima News

Ingushetia, Sunzha region: Security forces torture and humiliate woman in refugee camp in Ordzhonikidzhevskaya ("Crime in a camp for Chechen refugees") [#21028],  [ID 16120]

"The security forces demanded that the woman tell them where they could find her brother in law. According to available information, Khalevtova’s brother in law, living at the time in the Achkoi-Martan region, was blown up by a mine on the outskirts of a village. The explosion tore off his leg. He spent several months in the hospital of Achkoi-Martan and then was transported abroad by his relatives in order to continue recovery. When the woman answered that she didn’t know where her brother in law was, the security forces started to beat her up. One of them left several knife wounds on her body. Others put a knife to the children’s’ throats and said there would cut them apart if Iman didn’t give them the information they wanted. They tortured and then laughed at her suffering for around an hour and a half. According to the victim, one of the security forces suggested to another as they left, “Let’s get rid of the victims”. Most likely, he was suggesting that they kill the woman and her children. Residents of the PVR have confirmed that the security forces spoke Russian and Chechen. The locals believe that they were representative of the “Special Forces” of Russia and the Chechen Republic."

Document(s): Open document

04.2004 - Source: Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture

Chechnya: Report on the use of rape and other torture in the conflict ("Rape and Other Torture in the Chechnya Conflict: Documented evidence from asylum seekers arriving in the United Kingdom") [#22487],  [ID 16121]

This paper summarises the experiences of those clients seen at the Medical Foundation who have been tortured as a consequence of the conflict in Chechnya. It relates to the 35 clients provided with services by the Medical Foundation between December 1999 and January 2004. Although a small sample, their experiences are broadly typical of a wider pattern of gross abuse.

Document(s): Open document