19:00, 1 July 2009

Human rights activists doubt of Abdullaev's voluntary appearance on Chechen TV

Human rights defenders have doubts as to appearance of Maskhud Abdullaev, son of Chechen field commander Supyan Abdullaev, who was deported from Egypt, on air of one of TV Channels of Chechnya.

"We have serious doubts to this end," an employee of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" in Grozny said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "For example, how could Maskhud Abdullaev, by ignoring all the exits from Domodedovo Airport, take a domestic flight to Grozny? Who had brought him there? Has he done it voluntarily, and is Maskhud really at large?"

A member of one of local NGOs, who asked not to mention his name, was more categorical. "It's clear to any sane person that Maskhud Abdullaev was kidnapped, brought to Chechnya and forced by threats to appear on television; same as it was done earlier with former militants and their relatives. In the case with Abdullaev we have the same."

Author: Alexander Ivanov

Source: CK correspondent