18:00, 17 February 2011

ECtHR fines Russia by 152,000 euros for disappearance of two residents of Chechnya

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg has found the Russian authorities guilty of disappearance of two residents of Chechnya in 2002 and fined Russia by 152,500 euros.

As stated in the communication of the Court, in August and December 2002, residents of Grozny Lemma Khakiev and Mussa Temergeriev were detained by armed person in camouflage and, according to the applicants, taken to different military units of the city. Immediately after detention their relatives addressed the authorities and reported their disappearance; criminal cases were initiated. However, until now the fate of Khakiev and Temergeriev remains unknown.

Russian authorities, as noted by the ECtHR, had failed to provide materials of the criminal cases as requested by the European Court; however, they sent information about unsuccessful search for the missing persons. The Court examined the circumstances of the case and ruled that the abductees can be presumed perished "as a result of their detention by militaries," the RIA "Novosti" reports.