Cherkasov: ECtHR's decision on suits of relatives of 36 people missing in Chechnya is unprecedented

The decision passed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on 20 complaints lodged by relatives of 36 residents of Chechnya, who disappeared in 2000-2006, which puts the responsibility for the kidnappings on Russian militaries, is unprecedented, said Alexander Cherkasov, the Chairman of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

Let us remind you that that today the ECtHR in Strasbourg has awarded compensations ranging from 23,000 to 300,000 euros to the applicants in the cases on disappearance of 36 residents of Chechnya in 2000-2006. The Court has concluded that the responsibility for the kidnappings is on Russian militaries. The total sum of all the due compensations makes 2.3 million euros.

"The today's decision is unprecedented, but, at the same time, it's quite natural. It is unprecedented, because it has brought together 20 episodes of enforced disappearances, where 36 persons were the victims. Their relatives will receive over two million euros – an unprecedented sum for the cases of disappearance," the press release of the HRC "Memorial", received by the "Caucasian Knot", quotes Alexander Cherkasov as saying.

He added that the ECtHR had already passed over a hundred and fifty decisions on complaints lodged by relatives of Chechen disappearances, while Russian courts had passed only three sentences on similar cases.

"The fact that a few dozen residents and natives of Chechnya have appealed for justice not to Russian courts, but to the ECtHR, and found justice there, is already an unfortunate regularity," Alexander Cherkasov has summed up.