Rights defenders remind UN about human rights violations in Northern Caucasus

Twelve Russian human rights organizations have submitted to the UN an alternative report on human rights violations in the country, by specifying the regions of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) in several respects. Human rights defenders have specifically noted the totalitarian regime in Chechnya, which controls all spheres of life, up to the private one.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" stated that, in connection with the protest activity, the number of political prisoners is growing in Russia, including in Northern Caucasus.

Rights defenders have mentioned human rights violations during counterterrorist operations (CTOs), which, in their opinion, are not being investigated efficiently, despite the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Persecutions of activists and rights defenders continue either. In 2008-2017, at least 33 "honour killings" were revealed (especially in Chechnya, Dagestan, and Ingushetia), the website of the HRC "Memorial" reports.

Female genital mutilations are also mentioned – at least 1240 girls become victims of this practice every year.

Human rights defenders mention the practice of collective punishment, referring to the "execution list" that exists in the region.

Chechnya was specially mentioned in the section on the persecution of LGBT activists.

"Chechen authorities not only commit violence against LGBT people themselves, but also encourage relatives to execute them as those 'disgracing the family clan'," rights defenders report.