HRC "Memorial": methods of combating terrorism in Northern Caucasus threaten regional stability

The power methods of combating terrorism favoured by the authorities in Northern Caucasus, led to massive violations of law and human rights, thus, triggering a further increase of terrorist activity in the region, says the report of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" released today.

The presentation of the report of the HRC "Memorial" on state methods of combating terrorism in Northern Caucasus in the period from 2014 to the present day took place in Moscow today.

According to the authors of the report, in recent years, the region saw a "nearly complete return to the methods of state terror" and the rejection of most of the elements of the new course, which was pursued in the republics of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) in 2009-2012, and which assumed complementing force methods by a dialogue with different sectors of the society and trends in the Islam, interaction with rights defenders and observance of the rule of law in the course of special operations. The only republic, where the elements of this course still survive, is Ingushetia, rights defenders have stated.

The report is also criticizing the pressure on the Salafy community in Dagestan and the transformation of Chechnya into a totalitarian "state within the state."

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