23:58, 29 August 2003

Despotism of Russian servicemen in Sernovodsk settlement

A marriage of the resident of the village of Sernovodsk in the Sunzhensky region of Chechnya Shamkhan Asayev was held on August 24, 2003. Wedding celebrations continued till 2 a.m. Three Asayev's brothers-in-law (husbands of the Asayev sisters) stayed for the night in the Asayevs' house.

Russian servicemen without military insignia broke into the Asayevs' yard at 3 a.m. Without any charges they seized Shamkhan Asayev, his brother Magomed and the three brothers-in-law and took them away in an unknown direction. In the morning on August 25, 2003, local residents held an unsanctioned meeting and demanded that the men kidnapped by Russian servicemen be found and released.

On the same day in the evening the servicemen set all the detained free. But according to some information, the Asayevs' relatives had to pay a big ransom to have them released. All the five men were violently beaten and could not move. Some people witnessed that Magomed Asaev was in a very poor condition.

Source: Public organization "Chechen National Rescue Committee"