Moskalkova reports about inquiry into disappearances in Chechnya

Chechen investigating bodies have opened criminal cases on disappearance of 18 persons, Tatiana Moskalkova, the Russia’s Ombudsperson, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Ms Moskalkova received appeals from residents of Chechnya, whose names were listed in publications of the “Novaya Gazeta” about extrajudicial executions and persecutions of LGBTs in Chechnya. The Ombudsperson decided to personally visit the republic and talk with law enforcers and rights defenders. In Grozny, Moskalkova announced her intention to meet two residents of Chechnya, who were mentioned in the newspaper's articles as dead, but, according to law enforcers, are alive.

"There are criminal cases here, but not on all of them – on 18 persons out of 31 on the list," the TASS quotes Tatiana Moskalkova as saying.

She has noted that on two persons from the list there was information that they had died a natural death. "Two are alive, they promised to come if invited," she has added.

In her turn, Sylvie Bermann the French Ambassador to Russia has called on Russian authorities to do everything for holding accountable of all those involved in human rights violations in Chechnya.

"We’ve stated our concern about the situation in Chechnya with LGBT people; we know that they are subjected to shocking treatment, where impunity prevails," The RIA “Novosti” quotes Ms Ambassador as saying.

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