ECtHR holds hearings in case on terror act in Beslan

Today, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held the hearings in the case on the terror act in Beslan. This was reported by Kirill Koroteev, a lawyer of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". According to the lawyer, the ECtHR may pronounce the decision in the case within several months.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 1, Susanna Dudieva, the Chair of the Public Committee "Mothers of Beslan", reported that the ECtHR would begin the consideration of the complaint filed by the victims of the terror act at the Beslan school.

According to the HRC "Memorial", when speaking at the hearings, the complainants' representatives have pointed out that the law enforcement bodies had advance information about preparation of a terror act and failed to take sufficient measures to protect civilians. Besides, according to the complainants, the law enforcement bodies also failed to develop in details the plan to free hostages, and no effective investigation into the terror act had been carried out.

"The complainants' representatives believe that the authorities failed to fulfil their obligations under Article 2 (right to life) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The authorities have not taken sufficient measures to protect the lives of the complainants' relatives and to prevent danger to their lives. Besides, the authorities also failed to carry out a proper investigation into the deaths of 331 peaceful citizens," states the press release of the HRC "Memorial" received today by the "Caucasian Knot".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.