Øystein Windstad to continue investigation into deaths of Chechens deported from Norway

The journalists, injured in an attack on the border of Chechnya and Ingushetia, took part in investigative actions and went home. One of the journalists, Øystein Windstad, said he was going to visit Russia again to continue investigation into the circumstances of the deaths of two Chechen residents.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 9, in Ingushetia, not far from the administrative border with Chechnya, a group of unidentified attackers beat eight rights defenders, journalists, and a driver of a minivan of the Joint Mobile Group (JMG) on their way to Grozny. Their minivan was burned out. As a result of the incident, four persons, including journalists from Norway and Sweden, were brought to the Sunzha District Hospital. On March 11, three of them, including Øystein Windstad, were discharged from the hospital.

The rights defenders and journalists took part in the investigative actions in the case of the attack and went home. This was reported by Igor Kalyapin, the head of the "Committee for the Prevention of Torture".

Besides, Igor Kalyapin also reported that Øystein Windstad has "safely reached home."

Øystein Windstad arrived in Oslo in the evening of March 11. Once at the airport, he has announced his intention to visit Russia again to find out the circumstances of the deaths of the Chechens, who were deported from Norway.

Øystein Windstad is engaged in the investigation of the fate of two Chechens, who came to Norway in 2008 and who were denied refugee status. In late 2011, the men were forced to return to Chechnya.

Øystein Windstad has found out that in May 2013, one of the deportees was detained, and a month later, his body with signs of torture was found in the Argun River. In 2012, the second Chechen man died under unknown circumstances: according to the official version, he was killed in a road traffic accident; however, signs of electric shock torture were found on his body.

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