Murder of Lieutenant Colonel results from law enforcers’ impunity in Chechnya

When commenting on the information about the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Albert Atmurzaev in Grozny, lawyers have noted that law enforcers have the right to use firearms when there is a threat to society. In Chechnya, law enforcers use firearms more often than in other regions of Russia, which results from two military campaigns and the Ramzan Kadyrov’s permission to “shoot in the forehead” at those who fail to obey the police, military experts and human rights defenders emphasize.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that according to sources, Lieutenant Colonel Albert Atmurzaev perished in Grozny after law enforcers opened fire on his car because of his refusal to obey their request to stop.

In Chechnya, law enforcers use firearms more often than in other regions of Northern Caucasus, believes Svetlana Gannushkina*, the chair of the “Civic Assistance Committee”*. “This fact is connected, first of all, with two wars. The people have firearms, and the presence of firearms is a sign of the level of a person. In addition, the authorities of the republic encourage the violence used by law enforcers,” Svetlana Gannushkina* said.

According to the human rights defender, when the authorities do not require minimal damage to civilians during the law enforcers’ work, that creates an atmosphere of impunity.

Amir Kolov, retired Colonel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), emphasizes that the law does not destruction firing if there is no real threat to the lives and health of law enforcers. Amir Kolov suggests that the perished Lieutenant Colonel simply could not have heard or noticed the signals from the law enforcers.

Lawyer Evgeny Chernousov, a former employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Russian Federation, notes that a warning shot should be fired first. At the same time, the lawyer also notes that law enforcers should shoot if there is a real threat to society.

Law enforcers have the right to use firearms to stop vehicles, notes a lawyer of the “Memorial” Centre for Defence of Human Rights.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.