11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

No reliable estimates of civilian casualties as result of military operations; on 24 March 2007 officers of local military commandant's office fired upon 3 women in Shatoy District, killing one of them ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22599]

"There were no reliable estimates of civilian casualties as a result of military operations. Then Chechen state council chairman Taus Dzhabrailov reportedly told the press in June 2005 that more than 160,000 persons had been killed in Chechnya since 1994. Memorial has estimated that 75,000 civilians died during the two Chechen conflicts. Chechen officials acknowledged the presence of mass graves and dumping grounds for victims. In 2006 a new mass grave was reportedly discovered; with the remains of at least 57 persons, apparently rebel fighters and civilians killed during government forces' bombardment of the city in 2000. Chechen Ombudsman Nurdi Nukhazhiyev reported that the remains of approximately 3,000 persons were buried in mass graves in Chechnya.

Memorial noted that security forces indiscriminately used overwhelming force and heavy artillery to minimize their losses. On March 24 officers of the local military commandant's office fired upon three women in Shatoy District, Chechnya. One of them, Khaldat Mutakova, was killed, and the other two, Zalpa Mutakova and Zaira Kasumova, were wounded. In April a woman was wounded during an assault on a house in Untsukulskiy district, Dagestan. On May 20 in Khasavyurt, Dagestan, two bystanders, an adult and child, were killed by militia fire. On May 22 militia officers fired at a suspect in the middle of a crowded square in the town of Kaspiysk, Dagestan; three bystanders were wounded."

Document(s): Open document

03.08.2006 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Crimes and wanton killings of civilians by military continue; several incidents documented by Memorial ("On the Situation of Residents of Chechnya in the Russian Federation (July 2005-July 2006)") [ID 17700]

For detailed information on incidents please see the report

"It should be noted that even with unarmed guards residents on the premises of a Temporary Accommodation Point are nevertheless much safer than outside of the settlement, where they can be abducted and killed. (...) Crimes by the military against civilians continue. Servicemen of the federal forces commit wanton killings of civilians. Usually crimes are carried out in a state of alcohol intoxication. Be-low is an illustrative incident, which triggered a wide response in the Republic. (...)"

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

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Civilian casualties difficult to estimate; Chechen State Council Chairman estimates that since 1994 more than 160 thousand have been killed ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 16448]

"There were no reliable estimates of civilian casualties as a result of military operations. Chechen State Council Chairman Taus Dzhabrailov reportedly told the press in June that more than 160 thousand persons had been killed in Chechnya since 1994. Memorial has estimated that 75 thousand civilians and up to 14 thousand servicemen have died during the two Chechen conflicts."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Numerous human rights abuses by Chechen rebels ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 16449]

"Chechen rebel fighters also committed numerous serious human rights abuses. They committed terrorist acts against civilians in Chechnya and elsewhere in the country, killed civilians who would not assist them, used civilians as human shields, forced civilians to build fortifications, and prevented refugees from fleeing Chechnya. In several cases Chechen fighters killed elderly ethnic Russian civilians for no apparent reason other than their ethnicity. Verifying or investigating these incidents was difficult. Chechen Minister of Internal Affairs Ruslan Alkhanov identified 120 attacks that he characterized as terrorist in Chechnya in 2004, but it was unclear what methodology he used to cite that figure. Alkhanov said this figure was lower than in 2003. Chechen rebels committed a number of terrorist acts involving bombings during the year. On July 19, a bomb planted by fighters killed 15 people including a number of civilians, and injured nearly 30 others in the Chechen village of Znamenskoye. Police were lured to the scene of the explosion after rebels placed a corpse in a stolen police car and made it appear as though a shooting was taking place. On Augus"

Document(s): Open document

10.11.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

6 villagers injured in Starye Atagi in mortar fire attack by Russian forces; incident described as accident by military official ("Military Says Federal Mortar Fire On Chechen Village Was 'Mistake'") [#39034],  [ID 16451]

Document(s): Open document

09.11.2005 - Source: Prima News

5 civilians including 9-year-old girl injured during night artillery shooting in Starie Atagi village near Georgian border ("Five residents of the village Starie Atagi were injured during a night artillery shooting") [#39056],  [ID 16450]

Document(s): Open document

15.08.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Chechen pro-Moscow official: death toll from wars could be 160,000 ("Chechen Official: Death Toll From Wars Could Be 160,000") [#35399],  [ID 16453]

Document(s): Open document

19.07.2005 - Source: BBC News

Chechnya: 14 people killed and more than 20 injured in explosion in Znamenskoye ("Explosion in Chechnya 'kills 14'") [#34159],  [ID 16454]

Document(s): Open document

24.05.2004 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Serious human rights abuses against civilians by Chechen resistance fighters ("Tschetschenien und die tschetschenische Bevölkerung in der Russischen Föderation ") [#23046],  [ID 16457]

"Auch die Widerstandskämpfer begehen ernsthafte Menschenrechtsverletzungen: Sie töten ZivilistInnen, die sie nicht unterstützen, benützen sie als menschliche Schutzschilder, zwingen sie, Stellungen zu bauen oder hindern sie an der Flucht aus Tschetschenien. Wiederholt sind ältere RussInnen, denen es nicht möglich war, Tschetschenien zu verlassen, aus keinem ersichtlichen Grund getötet worden.54"

Document(s): Open document

13.04.2004 - Source: ReliefWeb

Chechnya: clashes between rebels and pro-Moscow forces have killed at least 24 people, including 4 civilians ("Clashes between rebels, pro-Moscow forces kill 24 in Chechnya (AFP)") [#21377],  [ID 16459]

"[...] The casualties occurred during two separate battles in southeastern Chechnya and were among the highest recorded recently in the guerrilla war that has simmered between rebels and pro-Russia forces in the Caucasus republic for more than four years. [...] Four civilians were killed at Ishkoi-Yurt after a rocket from a Russian helicopter hit their house, an official with the regional administration told AFP. Another two women were injured in the attack. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

05.04.2004 - Source: Prima News

Chechnya: Several civilians wounded by Russion soldiers shooting at bus in Grozny ("In the center of Grozny soldiers shot at a bus with civilians inside") [#21054],  [ID 16460]

"On April 1 in the Leninsky neighborhood of Grozny, Russian soldiers shot at a scheduled passenger bus headed from Grozny for Argun. According to information received from local residents the incident occurred not far from the “House of Recreation” near the central market. Russian soldiers serving at the nearby checkpoint opened fire on the bus, inside which were several people. Several passengers were wounded as a result of the soldiers’ disorderly conduct."

Document(s): Open document

09.08.2003 - Source: Caucasus Times

Chechnya: Young woman wounded by a booby-trap in Leninsky district of Groznyy ("Woman blasted in Groznyy") [#15236],  [ID 16462]

Document(s): Open document

11.06.2003 - Source: Caucasus Times

Chechnya: 3 local inhabitants killed and 1injured by Russian servicemen in Grozny ("Three locals inhabitants murdered in Zavodskoi district of Grozny") [#15245],  [ID 16463]

Document(s): Open document

22.05.2003 - Source: Caucasus Times

Chechnya: Group of masked gunmen shot down relatives of an aleged suicide bomber ("Alleged suicide bomber's relatives shot down") [#15257],  [ID 16466]

Document(s): Open document

02.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Killings of ethnic Russian civilians in Grozny by Chechen fighters reported ("UNHCR Paper on Asylum Seekers from the Russian Federation in the context of the situation in Chechnya"") [#47145],  [ID 16469]

"Cases of murdered Chechen civil district administrators, claimed by rebel groups, have increased and the authorities have reported killings of ethnic Russian civilians in Grozny by Chechen fighters. Many observers feel that the collection of information on the assassination campaign is difficult as Chechen civilians are reluctant to speak about abuses by Chechen fighters, fearing their retaliation"

Document(s): Open document