ECtHR considers four cases on kidnappings in Chechnya

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) launched a consideration of a complaint lodged by relatives of Aslan Davletukaev, a resident of Chechnya, who had been kidnapped and killed in January 2004 near the city of Gudermes.

Apart from the Davletukaev's lawsuit, the ECtHR in Strasbourg will consider another three situations on disappearances of Chechen residents. This was reported by the lawyers from the Russian non-profit organization "Committee Against Torture".

Aslan Davletukaev, a volunteer of the Information Centre, busy with collecting information on human rights situation in the Chechen Republic, was kidnapped from his house on January 10, 2004. On January 16 his body bearing signs of torture was found on the outskirts of Gudermes.

It is known that Aslan Davletukaev in 2002-2003 accompanied Lyudmila Alekseeva, Chairperson of the Moscow Helsinki Group, during her working trips in Chechnya.

A criminal case had been initiated on the fact of Aslan Davletukaev's death.

However, then the investigation was suspended, and after that the Aslan Davletukaev's relatives and lawyers lodged a complaint to the ECtHR, the message of the press service of the "Committee against Torture" states.

Apart from the lawsuit on Aslan Davletukaev's kidnapping, the ECtHR in Strasbourg will consider the situation with kidnappings of Chechen residents Khizir Gulmutov, Islam Tazurkaev and Supyan Khutsaev.

According to the lawyers the NGO "Committee against Torture", it is clear that the ECtHR will soon determine a so-called "pilot decision", that is the decision, which will determine the group of lawsuits on continuing violations of the Convention on Human Rights. According to the NGO's experts, this will accelerate the process of considering the lawsuits on kidnappings of Chechen residents and relieve the ECtHR.