Friend of resident of Moscow Region killed in special operation in Chechnya claims of persecution by FSB

The office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" in Grozny was approached by Magomed Edilov, 51, a local resident and a friend of a resident of the Moscow Region, who perished in a special operation in Chechnya. Mr Edilov complained of being harassed by FSB agents.

According to his story, his problems started after his friend Nikita Blashkov, 26, a native of Ramenskoye, Moscow Region, was killed in Chechnya under unclear circumstances.

Edilov said that on October 21 Blashkov was in the train from Moscow to Grozny aiming to visit him, and he told about it to Magomed by phone. The latter was supposed to meet him on October 23 at 6:40 a.m. Moscow time in the village of Chervlyonaya, Shelkovskoy District of Chechnya, but Blashkov never came.

"Later Edilov learnt that the middle of the night four men (two in police uniform and two in plain clothes) came into the conductor's compartment and said that they needed Nikita Blashkov "for a short conversation". They went together out of the car and then returned to take away Blashkov's personal things and his ticket. From the conversation of the deputy head of the militia unit at the railway station with other employees Edilov learnt that the people who had taken Nikita away presented themselves as FSB agents," says the statement of the "Memorial".

In early November 2010, an inspector of the inter-district prosecutor's office of the Achkhoi-Martan District summoned Edilov for evidencing and said that Blashkov was killed on October 25, 2010, at rendering resistance to law enforcers.

Following the request of Blashkov's mother, on November 11, 2010, Magomed Edilov took away Nikita's body and buried him.

Edilov told the employees of the "Memorial" that "Nikita's body had multiple signs of violent death; tips of the fingers were blackened."

The statement further reports that "on January 19, 2011, Edilov's house was visited by three armed men who introduced themselves as FSB agents, but showed no documents." "They took Magomed to the operative-investigatory unit of the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) for questioning. Edilov answered all their questions about the circumstances of Blashkov's kidnapping. One of the agents named Nikolai threatened Magomed, and after interrogation several times asked him: 'Well, what shall we do?' Edilov could not understand the question. Then, the agent explained that he 'must work for them.' Otherwise, they can hang any crime on Edilov, and it will create many problems for him'," human rights activists report.

So far, no comments have been made by law enforcement bodies of the Chechen Republic on this case.