08:16, 15 December 2014

AI and HRW stand up for Chechen rights defenders

The flat where the office of CaT is located, after the fire. Photo by an eyewitness

Employees of the Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have stood up for the Chechen Committee against Torture (CaT), indicating the damage of CaT's property and attempts to put pressure on rights defenders.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 14, in Grozny, two employees of the CaT were detained and then shortly released. On December 13, information appeared about a fire in the Grozny office of the CaT's Joint Monitoring Group (JMG), which comprises CaT's rights defenders.

"As far as I know from the JMG staff, the office was severely destroyed by the fire; and the damage is essential," said Tatiana Lokshina, the head of the Russian branch of the HRW, as quoted by the "Interfax".

"These acts of intimidation are just continuing the suppression of the freedom of speech in the region," said Anna Neistat, the AI's head for international studies, as quoted by the Russian Service of the BBC TV Channel BBC.

According to her story, the authorities of Chechnya are "campaigning against the JMG", as well as against Igor Kalyapin, the head of the CaT.

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