Relatives of Ezhiev kidnapped in Chechnya claim pressure

Today, Madina Ezhieva, the wife of Arthur Ezhiev held on the territory of the Argun town military commandant's office, has filed a complaint to the Chechen Prosecutor's Office in which she detailed the circumstances of kidnapping of her husband.

For reference, Arthur Ezhiev was kidnapped on March 15 from his house in the village of Serzhen-Yurt, Shali District of Chechnya by a group "Kadyrov followers." This has been reported by Imran Ezhiev, chairman of the regional Chechen-Ingush branch of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society, who is in Germany now. Arthur Ezhiev is his nephew.

On Sunday, March 19, it became known that the kidnapped man was held on the territory of the military commandant's office (the so-called commandant's office No 8) in the town of Argun. He was held by Magomed Israpilov, commander of commandant's office company. He relayed a request to the relatives, through an intermediary, to hand him over a Stechkin pistol in return to the release of Arthur. The commandant's office is located in the same yard with the town prosecutor's office and the town department of internal affairs, runs the press-release of the Russian-Chechen information agency submitted to the "Caucasian Knot".

During the recent days, pressure has been exerted on Arthur Ezhiev's relatives by unknown persons. According to the Ezhievs family, unknown persons in plain clothes keep coming to their yard all the day and persistently persuade the family members to give up the pistol in return of Arthur's release. Arthur's relatives seriously fear that, if the weapon is not handed over, the power authorities may force the man to confess the crimes which he never committed.