10:10, 19 February 2014

ECtHR's decision on four disappearance cases in Chechnya and Ingushetia comes into force

Rally by relatives of people missing in Chechnya. Chechnya, Grozny, November 2010. Photo by Isa Khusainov, ‘DOSH’ magazine, N4(30) 2010.

As stated by the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on four cases related to disappearances and deaths of residents of Chechnya and Ingushetia in 2000-2005 published on February 18, the decision has come into force.

These are the following cases "Arapkhanov versus Russia", the decision on which was made on October 3, 2013; "Dovletukaev et al. versus Russia", the decision on which was made on October 24, 2013; "Gakaeva et al. versus Russia" and "Yandiev et al. versus Russia", the decision on which was made on October 10, 2013.

Most of the above applicants claimed that their relatives had been detained by unidentified men in camouflage and then disappeared. Their disappearances and deaths were investigated with repeated suspensions; and the cases remain unfinished until now.

The ECtHR, having examined all these cases, found violations of Articles 2 (right to life), 3 (prohibition of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment), 5 (right to freedom and security) and 13 (right to effective remedy) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and awarded essential compensations of material damage and moral harm to the applicants.