Appendix 6

Preliminary analysis of video footage taken by employees of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" in Grozny.

Description of materials and methodology

The photographs to which we have referred to below can be found on Memorial's web-site on:

http://www.memo.ru/hr/hotpoints/northkavkaz.htm

On 3rd March 2001 I closely analyzed a 12 minutes film, which was taken made by employees of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" on the premises of the Ministry of States of Emergency in Grozny, to where the bodies which had been discovered near Khankala were transferred. The time that the film was shot is not indicated. At the end of the film, the cameraman shows his signature, with the date on one of the sacks containing human remains (28.02.2001), which allows us to establish the approximate date that the film was taken.

Dozens of camera films were received for preliminary consideration, with the same subjects, however, the evaluation of these films was made more difficult due to the number of poor quality photographs and the fact that colour film was damaged (according to witnesses).

On computer equipment, the film which was taken in PAL format was decoded and split up into 81 frames of which 163 files were saved in the form of individual digital pictures with a resolution of 720 by 540 dots. The colour film or the reprint of the film (according to the witnesses) was not exact; objects with strong colours could not be seen properly in the analysis of the film and furthermore, whilst the film was being shot, the lighting changed including the addition of and changes in artificial lighting.

A description of the individual frames and pictures has not been written. All digital pictures received can be found in Appendix One without modification (fomat bmp, size of each file 1140 Kb) and in Appendix 2 in jpg format (size of each file 45-70 Kb). The number of each picture is made up of the number of the frame and a letter code.

Results of investigations and preliminary conclusions

All conclusions which were reached based on the films received only refers to the material under examination and can only be indirectly related to the subjects which are depicted in the photos. However, nothing arose during the analysis of the material to place this connection in doubt

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On the pictures, the remains of more than 10 people are depicted, it is not possible to establish an exact figure due to possible mistakes in transportation and collection of the remains. Furthermore, at the beginning of the video film, not all bodies were laid out on the area around the Ministry and additional bodies were transported whilst the film was being shot. During the film, part of the remains of one individual is shot on more than one occasion.

It is not possible to establish the precise reasons for the death of these individuals by examining the pictures, however, there is evidence of stab wounds on the corpses which, according to their location and their size have nothing or very little in common with life. It could be suggested that at least in the majority of cases, the death of the deceased was violent. In some pictures, evidence of bullet entry in the form of a fracture to the skull can be seen, in picture ¹74b according to the position of the fracture, we can conclude that the bullet entered from the top and travelled downwards, a little bit towards the front and to the left on the victim. Such an injury could have occurred if the victim had been kneeling opposite the perpetrator and slightly to the right. In many cases, the soft tissue wounds visible in the photos cannot be connected to any particular type of wound, they could for example be wounds caused by an attack of wild animals resulting in death for example an attack by wild rats or dogs which, according to witnesses can be found in the area where the bodies were discovered. Thus, in picture ¹7e distinct deep parallel cut wounds can be seen in the neck area with equal edges made with a sharp weapon or tool. These wounds could not be teeth or nail wounds from wild animals living in the area. An example of this type of wound can be seen in picture ¹73m2 on the right hand side of the neck.

Thus due to the unknown circumstances in which the remains of the deceased were found, it is not possible to establish the date and time of death from the photographs, however, in many cases, we can suggest that death occurred before winter 2000-2001. Furthermore, some of the corpses which are depicted on the photographs look as though they have been partially dehydrated (¹50) which may have been caused by the hot summer of 2000 and the fact that the bodies were located outside. In addition, some of the remains present particular problems for dating and the victims may have died some considerable time ago (¹14), perhaps even as much as 10 years ago.

A series of peculiarities were also noticed during the examination of the pictures which were received:

    1. It is visible that the corpses on frames ¹¹ 4, 9, 40, have been cut and scalped as there are wounds indicating this in the head area, such wounds could only have been caused by a series of applications of a sharp tool or weapon with a rough side on which the cutting edge was moved in a jerky fashion which is visible from pictures ¹4e and ¹9e.

    2. It is clear that some of the individuals had been blindfolded. (¹33,¹72).

    3. In many cases, cord can be seen on the wrists of the victims (frames ¹50, ¹06, ¹8, ¹10, ¹12, ¹18, ¹20, ¹31, ¹35, ¹41, ¹43, ¹60, ¹65, ¹66, ¹76). On some pictures, it is clear that he cords have been bound with very complex knots, which are not used in burials or in the transportation of corpses by towing (¹43,¹76). It can be suggested that the hands of the deceased had been bound and part of the cord had previously been cut off or torn off (¹06 ). A short length of the free ends of cord also does not confirm the possibility that the cord was used to bind the hands of the deceased with the aim of transporting them by towing.

    4. In cases ¹24 and ¹44 the hands and the feet of the corpses are bound with cord or rags.

    5. The corpse in frame ¹23 has smashed in front teeth, one of which is broken. The teeth on all other corpses are complete.

Alexander V. Sokolov

MD and Therapist

Research expert of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial"

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