Grozny: unidentified assailants attack Chechen Human Rights Centre

On May 30, armed men broke into the office of the Human Rights Centre of the Chechen Republic in Grozny and started threatening the employees of this organization. This was reported by the HRC "Memorial", which added that the attackers were not identified, and the reasons of the attack are unknown.

The incident occurred at around 4:00 p.m. Several men - two of them in civilian clothes, others in black military uniform - stormed the office of the Human Rights Centre. They did not introduce themselves and explain the purpose of their action. A man of about 50 in civilian clothes behaved most aggressively.

According to the employees, he threatened to "smash this lair" and "drive out of them to the hell." He promised that nobody would work there; however, he moved no specific allegations or claims against the centre. The attackers used foul language, insulted the women-employees of the office, and nearly beat a young man, who tried to get explanations, the HRC "Memorial" reports.

The demands of Minkail Ezhiev, the head of the centre to introduce themselves and stop offend his colleagues were also ignored. According to one of the women, the attackers "in general would not listen to what they were told; they were just yelling and all the time clutching their firearms."

The incident lasted for about ten minutes. The office staff and visitors were highly frightened. Then, Ezhiev managed to drive the unknown persons out; and they left without explanations.

Local law enforcement bodies give no comments on the situation.