Residents of a Chechnya village ask assistance from international organizations in setting free their fellow-villager

Residents of Roshni-Chu village in Urus-Martan district, Chechnya, ask international human rights organizations for assistance in setting free their fellow-villager.

According to a resident of the village, on June 17, law-enforcement officers detained Timur Gaev, their 31-year-old fellow-villager, who was later declared "emir" of the vakhabit "jamaat" in the district. The fellow-villagers of the suspect claim that Gaev never took part in combat actions against federal forces.

"Timur has never been "emir," vakhabit or militant, - says our interlocutor. He earned his living by selling mobile phones. He cares for two small children and his sick paralyzed father, former director of the local school. According to our information, Timur is now held at the Khankala military base. We know well just how criminal cases are fabricated here (in Chechnya), how they use torture to force people confess to crimes they have never committed."

"Knowing well Timur Gaev and the possible consequences of his detention, since it has been declared that he is "emir of jamaat" and a combat grenade has been found on him, the residents of our village have decided to apply for help to the international human rights organizations in order to ensure his liberation. An appropriate application has already been prepared. We want everyone to know that Gaev is not guilty and they simply want to "appoint" him a militant, an "emir" and a vakhabit. But this is all a lie," claims our interlocutor.

On June 18, the detention of Timur Gaev, "emir of Grozny jamaat," in Urus-Martan was reported by "Interfax" citing Chechnya MIA. Gaev was allegedly detained while processing field information and tried to explode a hand grenade during arrest.