Amnesty International: special operations in Northern Caucasus are accompanied by violations of human rights

In its annual report on the situation of human rights in 159 countries around the world, the Amnesty International has declared suppression of freedoms in Russia, oppression of minorities and pressure of the state on NGOs.

The situation in Northern Caucasus remains highly unstable, while still human rights violations are widespread in the context of security operations, says the Amnesty International.

Human rights activists have also pointed out a number of positive aspects. Some of the republics sought to develop a non-repressive response to threats from armed groupings, the report says, citing the example of the Adaptation Commissions for former militants. The Dagestani authorities have demonstrated a more tolerant attitude to Salafi Muslims.

Still, in the course of security operations, numerous human rights violations were fixed. In particular, there were cases of enforced disappearances, illegal detentions, facts of torture and other ill-treatment, and extrajudicial executions, the Amnesty International reports.

Only in exceptional cases policemen are prosecuted for abuse of office. None of the law enforcers responsible for kidnappings and alleged extrajudicial killings has been brought to justice, human rights activists assert.