Arrest of Chechen woman raises issue of disability certificates

Lizan Isakova, a resident of Grozny, and her son have been arrested within a fraud case with the status of a disabled person. Isakova had an official disability certificate; her case should lead to corrupt officials, lawyers assert.

The 47-year-old Lizan Isakova has turned to the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" with a complaint about the absence of help from the authorities. The woman reported that she was paralyzed and lost her vision capability, but the authorities refused to relocate her from the dilapidated house.

Meanwhile, the local television showed a story, in which it was stated that the Chechen authorities had provided material assistance to the woman, but she was unsatisfied and demanded another apartment.

The authorities suspected Isakova of a fraud and installed hidden video cameras in her apartment. The recordings showed that she was walking around the apartment without any visible difficulties, and her son unfolded the wheelchair after visitors had left.

Ilman Vakhidov, the first deputy director of the Chechen State TV and Radio Company (ChGTRK) "Grozny", has expressed his confidence that the HRC "Memorial" had known about the real state of Isakova's health and used the story "to blacken the activities of the state."

The Chechen authorities staged a political show out of Isakova's revelation, residents of the republic believe.

So far, it is unclear on what grounds Isakova had received her disability certificate, said Aset Malsagova, a human rights defender.