Rights defenders: Chechen practice of rewarding for help in solving crimes is fraught with bad consequences

Promising rewards for information about crimes is a usual practice of law enforcement bodies; however, in realities of Chechnya such initiatives may provoke false denunciations, extrajudicial executions and torture, the rights defenders questioned by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 22 in Grozny, the police ensign Akhmed Dopaev was killed by a shot at the back of his head. The head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov announced a reward of 10 million roubles for information about the gunman, adding that the one who would kill the gunman will receive a precious gift and the order of Akhmat Kadyrov – the supreme award of Chechnya.

"In the conditions of the Chechen Republic, where we see absolute lawlessness of power agents and de facto inaction of the laws, the practice, which can be quite good as such, may bring negative consequences. Any rewards in conditions of lawlessness and impunity are dangerous," said Oleg Orlov, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" and the head of the programme "Hot Spots".

When such rewards are announced, false denunciation may appear, followed by illegal bringing to responsibility, and as a consequence – knocking out of the needed evidence, torture and human rights violations, said Tatiana Lokshina, the programme director of the Human Rights Watch for Russia.

"There is a risk that this rewarding practice will lead to abuse of power. When they announce a reward for one's head, it contributes to the vicious practice of killing innocent people," said Varvara Pakhomenko, a researcher for the International Crisis Group, adding that cases of blood feud were registered in Chechnya even among law enforcers.