Law enforcers update trend to kidnap people in Chechnya

In Grozny, a kidnapping of seven persons has resumed the trend which took place during the military campaigns in Chechnya. This opinion has been expressed by civilians who expect the response from international organizations.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 21-22, seven men were kidnapped in Chechnya. They are being kept in a cold room in the territory of a law enforcement body in the Staropromyslovsky District of Grozny, and they receive almost no food. This was announced by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" on December 5.

The detentions of the people were carried out according to the "standard scheme," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Ramzan, a member of an NGO. "They detain a person who, for example, contacted someone of militants in Syria, and then they start verifying a circle of his acquaintances. They are checking phone numbers and calls. Anyone can become a suspect," Ramzan explained.

On December 5, Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the Civic Assistance Committee, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that in Chechnya, mass detentions are not unique, and they have recently increased. "No one is surprised anymore about what is happening in Chechnya," said the rights defender.

Svetlana Gannushkina has assumed that even if the Russian authorities do not listen to the opinion of international political institutions, they still can respond to the pressure from international human rights organizations.

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