Statistics of murders and abductions in Chechnya for March 2007

Situation in the Chechen Republic in March 2007 remain rather difficult.  Murders, unsanctioned arrests, detentions and tortures of detainees are still continued on the territory of the republic.  Periodically Russian military make artillery and bombing–missile attacks on suburbs of the settlements in the mountainous areas of the republic. 

 In spite of the situation of human right and freedoms observance in Chechnya differs from what was a few years ago, fundamental changes still have to be spoken about.  Many persons suffered from the actions of the ‘representatives of enforcement structures’ still afraid to plant facts of arbitrariness due to the possible negative consequences towards themselves as well as towards their family members.

Besides, serious problems connected with the increase of oncological (cancer), tuberculosis and HIV diseases and increase of drug users remain unsolved.  Many people consider that these problems also need efficient measures to be taken urgently as otherwise the processes can assume an irreversible character.

According to information available to the Information Centre CHO and published in our Information releases, 7 persons (including 1 woman and 1 child) were killed or died under various circumstances in March 2007 on the territory of the Chechen Republic.  Besides, in the result of military operations several representatives of enforcement structures and three suspected militants were killed.

At the same time on the territory of the stadium “Dinamo” skeletized remains (bones) of approximately 20 persons were found.  It is suspected that those people were killed in August 1996, not long ago before the end of “first’ Chechen war.

In the same time period in Ingushetia six persons were killed under various circumstances.  Two of them were women, one of which was the resident of Chechnya. 

 In March 2007, one person, the representative of law enforcement structures, went missing.  According to some information, he was captured and taken in the unknown direction by representatives of special services due to suspicion on participating in abduction of a woman, resident of Nadterechnyi region, which was conducted 10 years ago.

In Ingushetia, unknown persons also abducted one person, close relative of the president of the republic.

            On suspicion in implementation of different crime 29 persons were detained and arrested by representatives of enforcement structures in Chechnya.  Apparently some of them were released later on.

In Ingushetia 2 persons were detained by representatives of enforcement structures.  One of them was arrested in the IDP settlement.

Besides, at the same period of time several military operations between representatives of enforcement structures and participants of armed formations were conducted in the territory of the Chechen Republic.  In the result of these there were casualties from both sides.  Systematic firings of the wooden and mountainous areas by Russian military in the south of the republic are still continued.

Informational Center CNO