"Rosgvardia" denies involvement in kidnappings in Chechnya

There are no detainees in the territory of the "Rosgvardia" (Russian National Guard) units stationed in Grozny, says the official letter of its press service, released on December 7.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on November 22, armed people took Zelimkhan Dikaev away from his home, said his relatives, who turned to the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". According to rights defenders, at least six other men were kidnapped on November 21-22; all of them are kept in the territory of some law enforcement unit in the Staropromyslovsky District of Grozny, in a cold premise, almost without food.

The "Rosgvardia" unit, referred to by some media outlets and the HRC "Memorial", is not stationed in the Staropromyslovsky District of Grozny, states the above letter of the press service of the North-Caucasian District of "Rosgvardia" Troops. "Besides, we draw your attention to the fact that there are no detainees in the territory of the 'Rosgvardia' units stationed in the city of Grozny in the Chechen Republic," the letter says.

The letter was received by the HRC "Memorial" back on December 5, says the HRC's website.

According to the calculations of the "Caucasian Knot", since the beginning of 2017, residents of Chechnya have reported the abduction about at least 50 kidnappings of their relatives.

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