People go missing in Chechnya

Residents of Chechnya say that disappearances of people continue on the territory of the republic. For example, 36-year-old local Shamkhan Vitigov went missing in the town of Grozny on December 24. The man's close relative told the Caucasian Knot correspondent that Vitigov went to the central part of the town in the morning and did not return home.

"Sessions of the Government, the Security Council, and the Interior Ministry are broadcast every day. Everybody claims we should fight hard against the abductors of people, but nothing happens in reality. I don't understand then what for we need here federal forces, policemen, the OMON special police force, the State Intelligence Service, the Federal Security Service, and other agencies. Besides, they themselves stand behind many of the abductions of people," the man said.

On December 28, gunmen in masks and camouflage uniforms abducted Sulumbek Idagov, an official of the Chechen Central Bar. "Reports we've received by now say that several gunmen in camouflage uniforms and masks entered the house of lawyer Sulumbek Idagov by force and took him away with them threatening him with physical violence. The criminals moved in cars without number plates. Actions to search for and detain the abductors are underway," a duty officer of the Chechen Interior Ministry said. The reason for the abduction of the Chechen Central Bar official remains unknown.