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

Number of Chechens outside Chechnya has significantly decreased; in 2007 main concerns for IDPs who have not returned were lack of shelter and employment ("Summary of the ACCORD-UNHCR Country of Origin Information Seminar on Chechnya; Vienna, 18 October 2007") [ID 22952]

"When the tented camps in Ingushetia were closed in 2004-05 and about 150,000 IDPs went back to Chechnya, the main concerns of the returnees were protection and security. In 2007 the main concerns for IDPs who have not returned to Chechnya are the lack of shelter and employment in Chechnya. The number of Chechens outside Chechnya, in particular in Ingushetia, has significantly decreased and those who wanted to go back have returned to Chechnya. The others probably have specific reasons not to do so."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Although some IDPs chose to remain in Ingushetiya, UNHCR estimated that 70 to 75 percent chose to return to Chechnya despite inadequacy of temporary lodging; UNHCR was repeatedly refused by government to set up office in Groznyy ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22623]

"Officials stated publicly that they would not pressure or compel IDPs to return to Chechnya. However, the UNHCR reported that government officials stated their intention to deregister those IDPs who had received compensation from federal assistance lists and indicated that 52 families were deregistered in June 2005. Those who were deregistered faced the threat of eviction from their accommodations in temporary settlements, despite their willingness to pay for the accommodation. Although some of the inhabitants chose to remain in Ingushetiya, the UNHCR estimated that 70 to 75 percent chose to return to Chechnya despite the inadequacy of temporary lodging. For example, in August the government of Chechnya submitted to the UNHCR a list of 169 IDP families, largely from Ingushetiya, willing to return to Chechnya. The UNHCR reported that 1,141 IDPs returned to Chechnya from Ingushetiya this year.

The UNHCR asked to set up an office in Groznyy to ensure that those returning were provided international standards of safety and dignity, but the government repeatedly refused permission.

The UNHCR reported that, despite passport checks and occasional security sweeps that continued in IDP settlements, IDPs were generally able to remain in Ingushetiya without any pressure to return. However, other international and domestic organizations expressed concerns during the year over the government's treatment of Chechen IDPs in Ingushetiya. (...)

In April 2006 Chechen President Kadyrov announced that all temporary accommodation centers in Chechnya should be closed because they fostered drug addiction, prostitution, and other criminal behavior and because many persons living there could return to their homes. According to the UNHCR, five temporary accommodation centers across Chechnya were closed during the year, with many of those residents moving to other centers."

Document(s): Open document

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

As government attempts to have IDPs return to Chechnya intensified in 2006, approximately 4,000 IDPs returned to Chechnya from both TSs and private housing in Ingushetia; by early 2007, total number of returnees since 2000 stood at 57,000 ("Government efforts help only some IDPs rebuild their lives; A profile of the internal displacement situation") [ID 21206]

"As government attempts to have IDPs return to Chechnya intensified in 2006, approximately 4,000 IDPs returned to Chechnya from both TSs and private housing in Ingushetia (DRC, 31 July 2007). By early 2007, the total number of returnees since 2000 stood at 57,000 (Swisspeace, 30 March 2007). Although the authorities provided temporary accommodation for these returnees, many were unable to find a place in the collective centres upon their arrival (Swisspeace, 25 May 2007; Memorial, April 2006), and were faced with finding alternative accommodation.

In April 2006 Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov announced plans to close all TACs (Kavkazski Uzel, 19 April 2006; AFP, 4 March 2007). A commission was created to review the legal status of TAC residents, and to determine whether they had received compensation for lost property and housing, or possessed other habitable accommodation. Those residents who had not received property compensation and were deemed not to have habitable housing were considered for government-renovated apartments or cottages. The rest were de-registered from the Migration Service’s register and told to return to their original place of residence, where the local government would provide them with land plots. In the meantime, those without housing were instructed to move in temporarily with friends or family (SNO, 22 June 2007 and 11 July 2007). As a result of this verification exercise, six TACs were closed by mid-2006 and several thousand IDPs were excluded from government assistance (Kavkazski Uzel, 8 June 2006 and 26 January 2007; Chechenskoe Obshchestvo, 8 July 2007).

While the government verification exercise highlighted cases of people unlawfully residing in the TACs, there were a number of flaws in its implementation. In some cases, the government determined the original housing of IDPs to have been habitable when in fact it was not, and the intention of IDPs who were not willing to return to their original residence was not taken into consideration (SNO, 29 June 2007; IDMC / Memorial, 10 October 2006; Caucasian Knot, 6 June 2006). Although the government has allocated land plots to some people leaving the TACs, it has been left to IDPs to acquire building materials (SNO, 11 July 2007). In some instances, commission officials reportedly told residents that if they did not comply with the request to vacate the TAC premises they would use force to evacuate them (SNO, 29 June 2007 and 26 July 2007; Kavkazski Uzel, 23 June 2007)."

Document(s): Open document

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

Majority of IDPs from Chechnya currently living in Ingushetia want to return home, but main obstacles are lack of housing, lack of income generation opportunities, and lack of physical security ("Government efforts help only some IDPs rebuild their lives; A profile of the internal displacement situation") [ID 21207]

"The majority of IDPs from Chechnya currently living in Ingushetia want to return home, but have several concerns. A UNHCR survey of collective centre residents showed that 54 per cent intend to return to Chechnya, and a Danish Refugee Council survey showed that 79 per cent of IDPs surveyed (the majority of whom are currently living in rural areas) are planning to return to Chechnya (UNHCR, June 2007; DRC, 2007). Whereas personal security used to be the main concern of IDPs wanting to return to Chechnya, the main obstacles are now lack of housing, lack of income generation opportunities, and lack of physical security (UNHCR, June 2007; DRC, 2007). This contrasts with the IDPs from mountainous areas in Chechnya wishing to return to their original place of residence, for whom the main concerns are the lack of physical security, lack of housing and infrastructure and various obstacles to cattle rearing (Memorial, 15 March 2007; IWPR, 16 August 2006; UN OCHA, 12 December 2006; IWPR, 5 April 2007). Although agricultural land was almost completely cleared of landmines by 2007, mines and unexploded ordnance still posed a threat to IDPs and returnees (Swisspeace, 22 June 2007; ICBL, 2006)."

Document(s): Open document

03.2007 - Source: European Council on Refugees and Exiles

In 2006 large numbers of IDPs left Ingushetia to return to Chechnya after what OCHA calls “vigorous campaign” conducted by Chechen government; promises of compensation for destroyed housing were final incentive for many to return ("Guidelines on the treatment of Chechen internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers and refugees in Europe") [ID 21082]

"The resumption of the conflict in September 1999 led to the displacement of over 240,000 Chechen civilians, mainly into neighbouring Ingushetia, where they lived in rented accommodation and temporary settlements.45 Shortly afterwards the Russian authorities, mainly through the Federal and Ingush Migration Service (MS) - started to urge Chechen IDPs to return to Chechnya and initiated a campaign to close down the temporary settlements. The last temporary settlement was closed in June 2004.46 Some of those who left the settlements moved to Compact Accommodation Points (CAPs), small settlements set up with the help of international organisations. According to official figures at the end of 2005 there were 21,989 IDPs from Chechnya in Ingushetia. Unofficial figures put the number at closer to 38,000.

The situation in Ingushetia became generally tenser in 2006 with many reports of abductions. Memorial have gone so far as to say that the level of violence and arbitrary rule in Ingushetia is approaching the level of lawlessness in Chechnya. Those living in CAPs often have difficulty getting registered with the offices of the Ministry for Interior Affairs, suffer passport checks and special operations involving armed troops. After one such operation at a CAP, Aslamek Khatuyev was killed. He was the brother of Sultan Khatuyev whose relatives had sent a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights after he was abducted in Ingushetia.

In 2006 large numbers of IDPs left Ingushetia to return to Chechnya in 2006 after what OCHA calls a “vigorous campaign” conducted by the Chechen government over the summer.49 Promises of compensation for destroyed housing were the final incentive for many to return."

Document(s): Open document

11.04.2006 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR plans to open office in Chechnya as soon as security allows to provide protection and assistance to refugees, says UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres ("UNHCR to open office in Chechnya as soon as security allows, says High Commissioner António Guterres") [#48881],  [ID 16870]

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07.11.2005 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Increasing pressure to return on IDPs in Ingushetia and other parts of the Russian Federation ("Tschetschenien: Update: Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien, Inguschetien, Dagestan und anderen Teilen der Russischen Föderation") [#38928],  [ID 16871]

"Im Rahmen der «Normalisierung» der Lage in Tschetschenien hat der Druck auf tschetschenische intern Vertriebene (IDP) in Inguschetien und anderen Regionen der Russischen Föderation zugenommen. Mit Entschädigungsversprechungen und physischer Gewalt wurden und werden sie zur Rückkehr nach Tschetschenien gedrängt. Die letzten drei Zeltlager in Inguschetien – mit ca. 7'000 verbliebenen IDPs – wurden in der ersten Hälfte des Jahres 2004 offiziell geschlossen.57 Während nach Angaben des Norwegian Refugee Council im Januar 2004 noch 66'996 IDPs in Inguschetien registriert waren für humanitäre Unterstützung, so betrug ihre Zahl im März 2005 noch 32'44658, davon leben gut zwei Drittel in privaten Unterkünften, der Rest nach wie vor in zum Teil improvisierten Lagern.59 Die bewaffneten Auseinandersetzungen und die damit verbundenen Menschenrechts-Verletzungen zwingen jedoch nach wie vor Menschen, aus Tschetschenien zu fliehen.60 Die Zahl der nach Dagestan vertriebenen TschetschenInnen schätzte das UNHCR im Juni 2004 auf 8'000, in den übrigen Republiken des Nordkaukasus und der Russischen Föderation schätzte die selbe Institution die Zahl tschetschenischer IDPs auf rund 40'000. Zwischen 140'000 und 200'000 Vertriebene – je nach Schätzung –lebten im Januar 2004 in Tschetschenien selbst.61"

Document(s): Open document

30.06.2005 - Source: ReliefWeb

Chechenya: Vice-Premier Kadyrov bribed Borozdinovskaya villagers to return home; about 900 villagers fled to refugee camp in Dagestan after armed people raided their village, killing 1 man and abducting 11 others ("Chechenya: Kadyrov bribes refugees to return to Borozdinovskaya (PW)") [#33534],  [ID 16873]

Document(s): Open document

30.06.2005 - Source: ReliefWeb

Chechnya: Residents of Borozdinovskaya village who fled earlier this month to escape raid by security services, began returning home after officials gave assurances they would be safe ("Refugee villagers go home to Russia's Chechnya (Reuters)") [#33363],  [ID 16874]

Document(s): Open document

19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Chechnya: The last three tent camps in Ingushetia closed down; pressure on Chechen IDPs to return; 35,000 displaced Chechens remained in Ingushetia ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2005 (Events 2004)") [#32117],  [ID 16875]

"Russian authorities continued to encourage the return to Chechnya of Chechen IDPs residing in neighboring republics, mainly Ingushetia, although the situation in the war-torn republic remained volatile. Some IDPs returned voluntarily, while others did so only because of strong pressure. The last three tent camps in Ingushetia, which accommodated some 7,000 IDPs, were closed during the first half of 2004. It was argued that these measures were taken because of “unbearable” living conditions and fire hazards in the camps. However, it appeared that the true reason was that the tent camps demonstrated the most visible sign of the continued presence of a large number of IDPs in Ingushetia, which contradicted claims that the situation in Chechnya had “normalized.” Methods used to pressure IDPs included threats to cancel their migration service registration, without which they would be unable to receive further humanitarian aid, and promises of compensation for lost property should they return. In some cases, IDPs were also visited by the FSB and threatened with arrest. In the night between 21 and 22 June, 200-300 Chechen fighters staged coordinated attacks on the central office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and several other public institutions in Ingushetia. Similar attacks were reported in the town of Karabulak and in the villages of Sleptsovsk and Troitskaya. As a result of the fighting, about 90 persons were killed and over 100 wounded. Among those killed were several senior Ingushetia officials, including the acting interior minister, Abukar Kostoev. Following this attack, local police conducted operations in most of the republic’s temporary Chechen IDP settlements to control the IDs, interrogate, take fingerprints and search the houses of IDPs. Most of the operations were conducted in a lawful manner, but some involved irregularities. An operation conducted in the temporary settlement in Altievo on 25 June had the character of a mop-up operation and was accompanied by arbitrary mass detentions, beatings, intimidation and robbery. These developments and, in particular, the events in Altiveo, created fears among IDPs that they would be the targets of “retaliaton attacks” in the wake of the armed raid. Many, therefore, decided to leave for Chechnya at this stage. Local NGOs estimated that 2,500 persons returned to Chechnya in the three weeks after the armed raid and the subsequent security operations. At the end of 2004, an estimated 35,000 displaced Chechens remained in Ingushetia. Out of these, about a third were accommodated in temporary settlements and the rest in private homes. At the peak of the fighting in Chechnya in 2000, over 200,000 IDPs resided in Ingushetia, while the figure was 67,000 at the beginning of 2004. The conditions in the temporary accommodation centers in Grozny, where many of returning IDPs ended up living, did not correspond to promises made by the authorities."

Document(s): Open document

15.01.2004 - Source: ReliefWeb

Risk of forced return (summary of the main findings of the newly updated country pofile on IDPs in the RF prepared by the NRC) ("IDPs in northern Caucasus endure violence and destitution (NRC)") [#18796],  [ID 16898]

"The Russian and Ingush authorities have put continuous pressure on displaced Chechens to go back to their war-torn republic. This has included the disruption of federal aid in camps, forced closure in camps, security operations in IDP settlements, and military forces being stationed around IDP camps. In addition, migration services have ceased to register newly arrived Chechen IDPs in April 2001 and have arbitrarily removed people from state distribution lists, thus further increasing pressure on IDPs to leave (UNHCR, February 2003). As a result, the number of IDPs in Ingushetia decreased from 240,000 in January 2000 to 70,000 in November 2003, according to figures compiled by the Danish Refugee Council. Efforts by UNHCR to promote the re-registration of IDPs have had limited impact (UNHCR, 30 September 2003; OCHA, 17 September 2003). Federal authorities have adopted several measures aimed at improving conditions in return areas in Chechnya, but IDPs in Ingushetia have remained reluctant to return. On 4 July 2003, the federal government adopted a decree providing for the payment of compensation for property lost or damaged during the conflict, to be implemented before the end of 2003 (UN OCHA, 7 October 2003). A programme of reconstruction has also been implemented in 2002 and 2003 in Chechnya, but its impact on the ground has been hampered by corruption and mismanagement, as reported by the Russian Audit Chamber (RFE/RL, 30 April 2003). A survey conducted by MSF in IDP tent camps in Ingushetia in February 2003 showed that 98 percent of the interviewed IDPs did not want to go back to Chechnya in the near future, mainly because of concerns for their security (MSF, April 2003). During his visit to Ingushetia and Chechnya in September 2003, the Representative of the UN Secretary General on IDPs, Dr. Francis Deng, noted significant discrepancies between the official policy statements in favour of voluntary return in safety and dignity, and the experiences of IDPs (UN, 15 September 2003). Authorities in Ingushetia have given green light to the resettlement of a group of 30,000 people displaced from Chechnya, mostly of Ingush ethnicity. In 2003, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation provided support to the Ingush authorities for resettling these IDPs, through the construction of houses on land plots allocated by the authorities. UNHCR helped strengthen the self-reliance capacity of these families through the creation of a carpentry workshop (UN OCHA, 31 March 2003, 6 August 2003)."

Document(s): Open document

04.09.2003 - Source: ReliefWeb

Russia is intensifying its efforts to repatriate Chechen refugees back to Chechnya in the run-up to the local presidential elections ("Moscow Tries to Allay Chechens’ Fears over Repatriation (UNAG)") [#15735],  [ID 16879]

Document(s): Open document

02.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Most of the IDPs who were granted forced migrant status reported fear of persecution from Islamic fundamentalist groups and not from the federal troops ("UNHCR Paper on Asylum Seekers from the Russian Federation in the context of the situation in Chechnya"") [#47145],  [ID 12009]

"12. According to information available to UNHCR from local NGOs and implementing partners, most of the forced migrant status applications based on allegations of mistreatment by federal forces, lost property and/or “a mass violation of public order” were rejected by the competent migration authorities on the grounds that the on-going “anti-terrorist operation” conducted by the Russian government, by definition, does not constitute a “mass violation of public order,” nor can the federal forces who conduct such operations be considered as committing such violations of public order. Most of the IDPs who were granted forced migrant status reported fear of persecution from Islamic fundamentalist groups and not from the federal troops."

Document(s): Open document

29.01.2003 - Source: Human Rights Watch

HRW: Pressure to return ("Into Harm’s Way: Forced Return of Displaced People to Chechnya") [#10533],  [ID 16885]

"Every day, about thirty representatives from the United Headquarters and the Federal Security Service (FSB) make the rounds at each of the major tent camps in Ingushetia, going from tent to tent explaining the advantages of moving to Chechnya and the disadvantages of remaining in Ingushetia. They continuously pressure families to sign the “voluntary return” forms provided by the United Headquarters officials and promise those who sign five months of humanitarian supplies. They also promise returnees space in new temporary accommodation centers (TACs) that are allegedly being built in Chechnya, offer twenty rubles per person per day to those who plan to rent housing in Chechnya, and offer free transportation back to Chechnya. Migration officials commonly warn residents that vital gas and electricity supplies will be cut off to the camps. They have emphasized to displaced people that the camps would soon be closed, and that tent dwellers would be better off leaving immediately rather than awaiting a forced closure of the camps. In several cases, officials have threatened those reluctant to leave with arrest on false drug and weapons possession charges. According to numerous witnesses, the major message migration officials and especially Chechen government representatives have tried to convey to the displaced is that their choice is between immediately leaving “voluntarily” or being forcibly evicted at a later date. One interviewee summarized this message, as he understood it: “If you don’t leave voluntarily we’ll kick you out.”[12] In late October, Russian federal troops set up permanent positions near all of the major tent camps, reinforced with armored personnel carriers with heavy weapons. In some cases, armed Russian soldiers began accompanying United Headquarters officials on their tours of the tents, and began intimidating displaced families into signing the voluntary return forms. Some displaced persons told Human Rights Watch that the sudden appearance of heavily armed Russian troops in the camps added further to the pressure they felt to return.[13] Some displaced families reported that migration officials had removed them from the food ration lists in order to force them to abandon their tents, and in one case simply kicked a family out of their tent without offering any alternatives. A resident of the Bella tent camp told Human Rights Watch that migration officials came to her several times, asking whether she wanted to go home. When she refused to sign a voluntary return form, the officials threatened to harm her son, saying, “I’ll talk to you separately in a special way—you have a son.” On November 18, she found out that her family had been removed from the list of registered displaced persons and had lost its food rations. When she went to complain to the migration service, her file said that she and her family “left for Tver.” At the time of Human Rights Watch’s visit she was still trying to reregister in the camp without success.[14]"

Document(s): Open document

29.01.2003 - Source: Human Rights Watch

HRW: Aki-Yurt camp, which housed some 1,700 displaced Chechens, was forcefully closed in early December 2002 ("Into Harm’s Way: Forced Return of Displaced People to Chechnya") [#10533],  [ID 16886]

"Since the end of 1999, Russian officials at various times have attempted to convince internally displaced people to return to their homes inside Chechnya. But in May 2002, Russian and Ingush officials for the first time announced detailed plans to close the tent camps in Ingushetia—unsightly counterevidence of Russian claims that the war had ended—and to return the displaced persons living in them to Chechnya.[1] They began to implement the plan in May, but in the aftermath of the Moscow hostage crisis, they moved forward with unprecedented speed and aggression. In sub-freezing temperatures, using a combination of threats and incentives, officials have attempted to force the 23,000 people who at that time remained in seven tent camps back into an active war zone. In one case they succeeded: the Aki-Yurt camp, which housed some 1,700 displaced Chechens, was forcefully closed in early December 2002 after the international community had been temporarily barred access to it. Without exception, residents of the remaining six camps told Human Rights Watch that they did not want to return due to the unsafe conditions in Chechnya, but pressure on them was unrelenting. The pressure has been effective: according to the Federal Migration Service (FMS), between November 21 and December 24, 2002, 2,663 tent dwellers returned to Chechnya.[2] Although Russian officials claim that returns to Chechnya are “voluntary,” Human Rights Watch research shows that this is not the case. Migration officials have constantly harassed displaced persons; threatened them with arrest on false charges, with withdrawal of food allowances, and with cutting of gas and electricity supplies during winter months; and at times forced the removal of displaced persons from their tents. The forcible closure of Aki-Yurt tent camp and the aggressive attempt to push displaced persons to return to the active war zone in Chechnya amounts to forcible return and is a clear violation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.[3] Russian authorities in Ingushetia told Human Rights Watch that tent dwellers have the option of remaining in Ingushetia or returning to Chechnya. Yet no displaced people interviewed by Human Rights were aware of this choice. Human Rights Watch also found shelters that allegedly will be provided to tent dwellers in Ingushetia to be uninhabitable, occupied, or simply nonexistent. Moreover, the promises of shelter and assistance in Chechnya intended to serve as incentives to return in some cases have proven illusory, due to the severe shortage of adequate shelter in Chechnya. Failing to provide shelter, or compelling displaced persons to live in uninhabitable shelter also violates the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement"

Document(s): Open document

20.06.2002 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

IWPR: Hundreds of thousands of Chechen refugees in Ingushetia fear that Russia may force them to return to Chechnya ("Chechen Refugees Fear Forced Return") [#8792],  [ID 16896]

"The Russian government, assisted by the new Ingush leader Murat Zyazikov, adopted a plan for the return of refugees to Chechnya last month, which it insists will be on a voluntary basis. The plan envisages that refugee camps in Ingushetia will be dismantled and the refugees themselves, after being registered and checked, will return to Chechnya and live in the temporary settlement points. This should take place before October this year. The plan was approved at the end of May by top government officials dealing with Chechnya, Zyazikov and the pro-Moscow leader of Chechnya, Akhmad Kadyrov. [...] Officially there are now 148,600 Chechen refugees registered in 123 centres across Ingushetia. Human rights organisations estimate that there are about 50,000 more unregistered in the republic. [...] Pressure on the refugees to return is beginning to grow. They report that since June 1, they have stopped receiving free bread (the Russian Migration Service says that this is because it owes 560 million roubles, or about 18 million US dollars, to the government), the rules of registration have been tightened up and they are even being asked to pay for it."

Document(s): Open document