Statistics of assassinations and abductions during October’ 2005

            There were no major changes in the situation in the Chechen Republic during last month. Abductions, assassinations, extrajudicial executions, unofficial detentions of the people occur almost every day as it used to happen in the course of last few years. 

Victims of the crimes are usually young and old people, women and children. Though the representatives of Russian and local authorities continue insisting that the crimes against civil population are gradually decreasing, and number of abductions and assassinations of people is also going down. 

Unfortunately, these allegations are out of all proportion to the reality. Information, received by Information Center and other human rights and social organizations from all Chechnya districts, confirms this statement.      

Statistics of assassinations and abductions during last month, produced with Information Center allows having more or less clear picture of what happens in the republic.   At the same time it needs to be taken into account the fact that some citizens of Chechnya prefer to hide information about cases of abductions, murders and extrajudicial executions of their members of family and relatives as they fear of pursuit from “force” representatives. Majority of the people, faced unofficial detention and cruel torture and later released, fully refuse to have contact with human rights organizations and information agencies.       

Assassinations and extrajudicial executions

            In October 42 people were assassinated in the Chechen Republic. Out of this number 10 are employees of MVD and 6 women.

Moreover, the information was received that during bombardment in Nozhai-Yurt district by Russian militaries 29 employees of local law enforcement structures were assassinated. In Vedeno district as a result of uncoordinated activities 17 local employees of force structures were killed. This information was received in the first part of October, but so far neither reliable confirmation nor denial was received.

Abductions and unofficial detentions

During last month in the republic 116 people were kidnapped and unofficially detained. Out of this number 10 are women, 3 people belong to force structures, 2 arechildren of 7 and 12 years old, 5 teenagers under 16 years old and a 70 years old man. Two persons out of the kidnapped number are found killed.

It is necessary to note that some of these people were (or probably will be) released. Anyway, the fact of abduction and unofficial arrests of the citizens by representatives of different (very often unidentified) law enforcement structures continue to take place. 

According to information, provided to the Information Center, last month in different districts and settlements of the republic about 30 “mass”, “address” and other kinds of “cleaning up” operations and “special activities) were conducted.  

During this month 20 people were beaten by representatives of force structures and armed people wearing camouflage uniform and driving in night time the following cars as “UAZ’, “Gazel”, “Zhiguli”.

Among these victims are 7 women, 2 aged persons and 1 under age boy.  

 Information Center of NGO Council