17:35, 4 September 2018

Chechen villagers tell about mass detentions of young people

An entrance to the village of Koshkeldy. Photo by Oleg Djurgaev http://vesti95.ru/2016/04/v-koshkeldah-ambulatoriya/

Young people were detained after the appearance in the outskirts of the village of Koshkeldy of a flag of the "Islamic State" (IS), a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by the court. Kheda Saratova, a member of the Human Rights Council under the head of Chechnya, has reported that young people were released.

After the August series of attacks on policemen, residents of the Shali District of Chechnya reported mass detentions and interrogations of teenagers; while the authorities explained the interrogations by the search for recruiters and holding preventive conversations.

A black flag was posted in the outskirt of Koshkeldy, detainees' relatives said.

Kheda Saratova wrote in her Facebook that parents of young people had appealed to her.

"According to these people, their sons were taken away several days ago; the reason for the detentions was that someone posted an IS flag on the road to Koshkeldy. Relatives assert that their sons are beaten up and bullied," Kheda's message says.

According to Ms Saratova, after the release, young people said that no violence was applied to them.

Let us note here that the age of the attackers on the policemen on August 20 has confirmed the conclusion about the rejuvenation of the underground, made by the "Caucasian Knot". According to rights defenders, the law enforcers' pressure on teenagers in Chechnya provokes discontent among local residents and creates conditions for a new wave of the armed underground.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 4, 2018 at 07:00 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: CK correspondents