12:52, 19 January 2017

HRC "Memorial" files complaint to ECtHR concerning special operation in Dagestan

Houses destroyed during special operation in the village of Gimry, Untsukul District of Dagestan, May 2013. Photo: Abu Muavia for the 'Caucasian Knot'.

On January 18, lawyers of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on the fact of a special operation carried out in a Dagestani village of Vremenny (a part of the village of Gimry) in 2014. According to the lawyers of the HRC "Memorial", violations were committed during the above special operation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 18, 2014, residents of the village of Vremenny, which geographically was a part of the village of Gimry, reported that law enforcers cordoned off the village and searched their houses. Later, the Vremenny villagers also reported on shortage of food and destruction of domestic buildings by law enforcers. The villagers also complained that a school and a kindergarten were closed. On October 8, almost all civilians left the village of Vremenny. On November 26, it was reported that the counterterrorist operation (CTO) legal regime in the Untsukul District was lifted.

The complaint to the ECtHR has been filed due to the fact that the Russian authorities violated the Articles on prohibition of torture, the right to respect for private and family life, the right to an effective remedy and the right to protection of property of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

"Law enforcers forced most residents to leave the village for the period of the special operation. On November 26, when local residents were allowed to return to their village, they saw their houses severely damaged or destroyed, and their belongings were stolen or spoiled. The same houses and apartments were repeatedly searched," states the today's report released by the HRC "Memorial".

At the end of the special operation, local residents unsuccessfully tried to get compensation and investigation into the actions of the law enforcers.

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