Russia lost its first action in the European Court upon Dagestan resident claim

On 8 April, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) passed a judgment on the case "Mrs.Abdurashidova against Russia", having acknowledged that the Russian Federation was responsible for the numerous violations of the applicant's rights. This is the first suit gained in the ECtHR by the resident of Dagestan", the Human Right Center "Memorial" informed today.

According the plaintiff, on the morning of 14 March 2005, a group of approximately fifty armed men stormed into their house in the village of Solnechnoye, Khasavyurtovsky district of Dagestan. Presumably, they planned to arrest the plaintiff's husband and two other men who were sleeping in their house that night. The law enforcement officers immediately opened gun fire. Two of Zulpa Abdurashidova's three children escaped unharmed but a 7-year Summaya was wounded and later died. Two other men were also killed. Abdurashidova's husband was taken to the district militia department by the law enforcement officers. The gunfire destroyed the house and the family possessions in it. The family repeatedly requested a criminal investigation into the death of Summaya and the destruction of their property. It is unclear whether a criminal investigation were opened. The appeal to the European Court of Human Rights was filed in June 22, 2005.

The European Court held that Russia was to pay the applicant 60.000 euro for moral damage and 8 000 euro for pecuniary loss. In addition, the Russian Federation authorities are to reimburse the legal cost of the applicant's representatives in sum of 3 480 euro.