HRC "Memorial": five detained residents of Chechnya disappear after explosion on dam

The fate of five persons detained in connection with the investigation into the case of explosion at the dam in Chechnya remains unknown, two persons died. This was reported by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on February 24, an explosion occurred on the dam in the settlement of Chernorechie in Grozny, which killed three people. None of them was known as a militant. On March 2, the detention of two residents of the nearby village of Gvardeiskoe was reported, and on March 6, the human rights defenders reported that at least 100 villagers were brought to the police station in connection with the investigation into the case of the explosion. Later, the people brought to the police station were released. On the next day, the body of 23-year-old Kana Afanasev detained on February 26 was given out to his relatives.

According to the residents of Gvardeiskoe, till present, they are not aware of the fate of at least five persons, who were detained in the period from February 24 till March 3 and brought to Grozny. All of them were in one or other way acquainted with the persons who perished on the dam, the HRC "Memorial" reports.

Besides, the local residents reported to the human rights defenders on the murder of 29-year-old Suleiman Tsakaev, one more native of the village. According to the villagers, on March 2 or 3, a staff member of the Nadterechny ROVD (District Interior Division) demanded that relatives of the young man took him to the ROVD for questioning in connection with the explosion on the dam.

On March 5, Suleiman Tsakaev arrived from Moscow to Gvardeiskoe and went to the ROVD. According to the local residents, in the same evening, law enforcers took him to Grozny, and at night on March 6, the Suleiman Tsakaev's body was brought to the OVD (Interior Division) of the Nadterechny District.

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