ECtHR awards compensation of 122,000 euros to sister of men killed in Nazran

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) awarded compensation of 122,000 euros to a sister of Salman and Zhuneid Gardanov, who were killed in 2012 during a special operation in Ingushetia, although Russia has adopted a law on non-execution of ECtHR decisions made after March 15, 2022.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on April 3, 2012, five persons were killed in Nazran, including Zina Velkhieva, Salman Gardanov (also referred to as Gordanova and Gordanov), his brother Zhuneid Gardanov, Salaudin Muruzhev, and Shamsudin Gardanov, the namesake of Salman and Zhuneid Gardanov. According to the official version, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were attached to the bodies of the passengers who were blown up together with a car. Relatives of those killed were repeatedly denied initiating criminal proceedings against law enforcers.

In 2018, Akhmed Gardanov, a resident of Nazran, filed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, the “Kavkaz.Realii”* reports. According to the Akhmed Gardanov’s version, his sons perished as a result of the use of force, which “was not absolutely necessary.” FSB officers justified their actions by saying that the Gardanov brothers opened fire on them, but their version was not confirmed during the investigation.

In his complaint, Akhmed Gardanov also noted that the bodies of his sons were disfigured as a result of a car bombing. The men also emphasized that the Russian authorities had been exhibiting indifference for a long time during the investigation into the deaths of his sons.

The ECtHR ruled that the use of weapons against the Gardanov brothers was not justified.

*The publication has been included into the register of the foreign media performing the functions of a foreign agent.