Appeal of Chechen FSB Department to militants to lay down arms causes mixed reaction of citizens and rights defenders

On March 16, the Department for Chechnya of the Russian Federal Security Bureau (FSB) released an appeal to members of illegal armed formations (IAFs). Militants are invited to lay down arms and return to peaceful life. Activists of local NGOs believe that the appeal contains direct threats against families of IAF members and express serious concern in this connection.

The document notes as a result of well-organized, long-term and systematic work the Chechen DFSB has been addressed by many former IAF members, who surrendered; and this allowed applying to them more lenient punishments.

"This is a great achievement of the authorities and law enforcers; however, a key role was played by militants' relatives, who convinced them to lay down arms and surrender," says the statement.

Along with that, according to the statement, certain members of the underground had perceived these initiatives of the authorities as an opportunity to continue with impunity their terrorist activities and murder law enforcers and civilians. "While relatives of these criminals pretend that they know nothing about it. However, the authorities can't make such concessions endlessly; these measures can't be permanent or have infinite nature. Moreover, we should not appease those who are not going to give up their criminal business and return to normal, peaceful and constructive life," says the document.

Further, it presents the names of 12 natives of the Sunzha and Achkhoi-Martan Districts, who are, according to power agents, members of the armed underground movement; the FSB addresses their particular relatives and friends. They are Beslan Makhauri, Ramzan Bataev, Ramzan Dundaev, Arbi Khabaev, Ramzan Makhauri, Beslan Khaikharoev, Bashir Magomaev, Mikail Musikhanov, Saikhan Kusuev, Apti Musakhadzhiev, Aslan Byutukaev and Shamil Osmaev.

The appeal caused a mixed reaction of NGO activists and residents of the republic, who express their serious concern about possible consequences for relatives and friends of the members of the armed underground movement, as well as for those whose names were presented in the document.

"This appeal treatment leaves a dual impression. On the one hand, it looks like a quite normal and understandable call to quit the ranks of militants and return to normal life, but on the other hand, it contains overt threats addressed only to militants themselves, but also to their relatives and friends. That's how I understand the phrase 'relatives of these criminals pretend that they know nothing about it'," the head of one of human rights organizations of Chechnya told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He did not rule out that the appeal may be followed by open repressions against militants' relatives. "Moreover, not only at the local, but also at the federal level, there were calls to punish not only the militants themselves, but also all who sympathize and help them," said the source.

According to his story, after some time, special services may launch broad retaliatory actions under the context that militants and their relatives were given time to think over and a chance to stop resistance and return their family members back home.

An activist of another NGO believes that the 12 members of the armed underground are facing a real and serious danger, as well as their relatives and friends.

We had plenty of cases, when young people were detained, kept in secret places, and then announced liquidated in the course of special operations.

Certain local residents support this opinion. "Why has this appeal appeared right now; why have only these 12 names been presented, when our authorities say that some 60-70 militants are hiding in the mountains; and they know almost all of them by name? I think this is another unclear game of law enforcers. I guess we'll soon hear about new successful special operations against militants and their supporters; and these particular persons and their relatives may quite well be among those liquidated and detained," said Rakhman T., a local resident.

Along with that, some of the public believe that the yesterday's appeal of the FSB may become the basis for a new amnesty for the members of the armed underground operating in the territory of Chechnya.

"If militants are given another chance to think over their actions and return to their families, this should be welcomed. The mountains are sheltering not only odious field commanders like Umarov, Gakaev and Vadalov and others, but also young people who had been enticed into the forest. They really need to be given a chance to return to peaceful life," Said D., a resident of Grozny, believes.