Chechen public demands to punish "Vostok" for skirmish in Gudermes

Representatives of human rights and public organizations of Chechnya demand to make accountable the special-purpose battalion of the GRU (Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff) named "Vostok" (East), which took part in the conflict with the guards of Ramzan Kadyrov, President of Chechnya that burst out in Gudermes.

The statement was signed by Nurdi Nukhazhiev, Ombudsman in the Chechen Republic, Dzhabrailov, Chairman of Public Chamber of the Republic, and Ituev, Chairman of the Board of NGOs under the Chechen Ombudsman.

"The events on April 14 were logical implications of the situation, when thousands of kidnappings and disappearances are not investigated for years, even when the criminals are known. Thousands of crimes against civilians of the Republic are not investigated," runs the statement. "The fighters of the 'Vostok' battalion were also involved in kidnappings. They also extorted money from citizens and heads of local administrations. However, for unknown reasons these offences remain unpunished."

On April 14 in the city of Gudermes a collision took place between the Chechen President's guards and a group of "Voctok" fighters who were led by Badruddi Yamadaev, brother of Sulim Yamadaev, commander of the battalion.