President of Dagestan discusses kidnapping issue with delegation of HRC "Memorial"

A meeting of the head of the republic Magomedsalam Magomedov with a delegation of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", headed by Oleg Orlov, took place in Makhachkala. In the course of the conversation, the parties touched on the problem of kidnappings and defence of human rights and freedoms.

The delegation included Oleg Orlov, Chairman of the Board of the HRC "Memorial"; Svetlana Gannushkina, a Board member; Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, curator of the "Memorial" programmes in Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria; and Tatiana Kasatkina, executive director of the HRC.

As stated by President of Dagestan Magomedsalam Magomedov, he respects the mission of the "Memorial" and knows that its employees are sincerely concerned about human rights and freedoms and respect for the law. "This is also my constitutional duty as the head of the republic. In this sense we have common goals and objectives with you. Not always we may give same assessments to these or those phenomena; our views may not coincide. Nevertheless, I respect your position and believe that you sincerely want to help people," said Magomedsalam Magomedov.

He noted that he was proud that Dagestan was among the few regions, where the media freedom is very high. Regarding the situation in the republic, Mr Magomedov said that in recent years Dagestan got far behind the Russia's national average in its socio-economic development.

"Ultimately, this is the main reason of destabilization of the socio-political situation. Not all the people have chances to get decent jobs and education, which causes some protest moods," believes the President of Dagestan.

He added that he had read the report of the "Memorial" on the situation in the republic. According to his story, facts about human rights violations by law enforcers, investigated by the "Memorial", are under supervision of the republic's leadership.

"Not all the information reported to you is true; same as not always power agents act within the legal domain. They work in difficult conditions; although it in no case excuses them," said Magomedsalam Magomedov.

He continued by noting that certain members of the law-enforcing system "do not always behave as we would like them to." "When such cases become known, we surely react to them. Several employees, including those from the Kizilyurt ROVD, have been dismissed; a service investigation has been launched against them. All these issues will further be under the control of the republic's leadership," said President Magomedov.

According to Svetlana Gannushkina, the "Memorial" from the outset is closely working with the office of the republic's Ombudsperson; and recently the HRC employees are in constant contact with the Dagestani First Vice-Premier Rizvan Kurbanov.

The issue of kidnappings committed by armed groups in camouflage was also touched on by Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, curator of the "Memorial" programmes in Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria. According to her story, over the past year the HRC received 26 applications from abductees' relatives.

She noted that rights defenders also received reports on cases of torture applied by law enforcement officials against detainees.

In response to this the Dagestani leader said that should at least one of such facts be confirmed, those responsible will suffer severe punishment; however, each of such cases should be dealt with separately. "It often happens that the alleged missing people had actually 'left for the forest', while those who spread such rumours pursue their personal interests," said Magomedsalam Magomedov.

Oleg Orlov, Chairman of the Board of the HRC "Memorial", handed over a draft report of the HRC on the situation in Dagestan to the head of the republic; the report is entitled "New Magomedov's Course". "This is just a draft; and we are ready for any criticism," said Oleg Orlov and added that the HRC plans to hold a roundtable on the situation in the region in Dagestan.