Another kidnapping in Chechnya

As reported by an employee of one of the local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), engaged in human rights defence and legal aid to citizens, last week, two city dwellers of Shali were detained and taken away to some unknown location by employees of some unidentified power agency.

"On April 2, in the city of Shali, some unidentified power agent appeared in a private house, located in the Naberezhnaya Street, and kidnapped Tair Deshniev (or Deshnyaev), the owner of the household, his neighbour Bakar Deshiev, who was there as a guest. At least, this is asserted by the latter's relatives," said the correspondent's source, who preferred to remain anonymous and not to name his NGO.

According to his story, Bakar Deshiev is a student of one of universities in Egypt; and he recently came to Chechnya to visit his sick father.

The human rights activist said that Tair and Bakar were severely beaten by the attackers. "There are no explanations to power agents' actions. It's not clear who could kidnap them, where and why," he said.

The source did not exclude that local militiamen could be involved in kidnapping. "As far as I know, when special operations are conducted in some district or settlement, local militia bosses should be notified. Therefore, I don't think that the incident did without involvement of the local militia. But so far, everyone keeps silent," he has emphasized.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent telephoned to the on duty officer of the Shali ROVD (District Interior Division). When asked whether two young men had been really kidnapped on April 2 from a house in the Naberezhnaya Street, the officer said that he could not give such information and offered to call the head of the criminal militia. However, the latter's phone sent back a fax signal, and nobody lifted the handset.