"Memorial" human rights centre: a local resident has been lost on the territory of a government complex in Chechnya

On June 8, 2006, Khamzat Shamsuldinovich Tushaev, born in 1959, was lost in Grozny on the territory of the Government Complex of Chechnya. He resided at the address 19, Diakov Street, flat 54, runs the message from the "Memorial" human tights centre obtained by the "Caucasian Knot" editorial office.

On June 7, a man phoned on the mobile phone of Khamzat Tushaev's wife. He introduced himself as Sergei Alexandrovich, a prosecutor's office employee. He asked to relay to her husband that he must come to the prosecutor's office on the following day because Kh. Tushaev was a suspect on the criminal case No 56049 initiated by the prosecutor's office of Shalinsk upon elements of crime falling under art. 208, para. 2, of RF CC (involvement in illegal armed units). The prosecutor's office employee also said that Tushaev was under recognizance not to leave the town as a measure of restraint.

On June 8, at 10 a.m. Tushaev and his wife came to the Government Complex on the territory of which the prosecutor's office is located. The duty militiaman at the check-point issued a pass to Khamzat, having called the prosecutor's office of Lenin district. The Tushaev's wife remained outside, waiting for him. At 17 p.m., concerned about the long absence of her husband, she asked the duty officer at the check-point to phone the prosecutor's office. The duty officer communicated with the prosecutor's office and inquired about Tushaev. The prosecutor's office employee who answered the phone said Khamzat Tushaev had not visited the place and had not registered. Having waited for some time, the wife returned home and informed her relatives on the incident.

On the following day, the Tushaev's wife addressed the "Memorial" human rights centre in Grozny with a written application in which she asked for help in locating her husband's whereabouts. As of noon of June 13, Khamzat Tushaev had not been found.

S. А. Gannushkina, member of the "Memorial" HRC Board and chairperson of the "Civil Assistance" committee, communicated with Taus Murdalov, prosecutor of Lenin district in Grozny, who said that they had not summoned Kh. Tushaev but he himself had come with a complaint. He was let in at the first check-point but half an hour later the second CP phoned Т. Murdalov to say: "Khamzat Tushaev has not come through CP-2." S. А. Gannushkina asked: "Is it possible to vanish from the territory of the Government Complex?" and the prosecutor of Lenin district answered, "No, it is impossible."