Human Rights Center "Memorial"

27.03.2002 To the Commanding OGV Troops, as it follows from the text, Order number 80 concerns not only large-scale 'special operations', but also the many so-called 'mopping-ups'.

As a result of the 'mopping-ups' carried out in breach of order number 80, in the three weeks since its publication, the following people were arrested in the Urus-Martan region, and later disappeared: Dzhambulat Umarovich Abdulkadyrov, Vakhid Baisaevich Ia''iaev, Beslan Lemaevich Zakriev, Shamil' Makhmudovich Demil'khanov, Shamil' Abdulvakhidovich El'tsabekov, Roman Shaidovich Akhadov, Zelimkhan Khamsatovich Demelikhanov, Musa Vakhaevich Dakaev, Aslan Zaindievich Akhmadov. Their bodies were consequently found, 6 of them bearing signs of brutal torture and violent death. According to information obtained by Human Rights Centre 'Memorial' 13 bodies have been discovered in the area, the body of another resident of the Urus-Martan region, arrested in Groznii, was found in the Staropromislov area of the city.

Since the beginning of this year, up until 4^th April 2002, 27 people have 'disappeared' after being arrested by federal troops in the Urus-Martan region. Just as before the publication of order number 80, the federal troops did not identify themselves, neither did they reveal what accusations had been brought against the arrested, nor where they were to be taken. Relatives of those arrested were threatened with automatic weapons upon their attempts to obtain answers to their questions. As a rule, arrests take place under nightfall.

A particularly intolerable practice has arisen in this region, as much from a legal perspective, as from the point of view of basic human values. Those who are arrested in their homes or in the presence of witnesses are later killed, it is then officially announced that the detained supposedly died in clashes with federal troops. In the last 3 weeks, M. Dakaev, A. Akhmadov, Z. Demelikhanov, R. Akhadov and Sh. El'tsabekov were all killed in this way.

In almost all cases of arrests and subsequent disappearances, relatives of the victims blame the federal troops and with reason.

The bodies of residents of the village Goity, R. Akhadov, Z. Demel'khanov and M. Dakaev were released to relatives for burial by the Urus-Martan Regional Ministry of Internal Affairs. Zakriev and Demil'khanov were taken to the local police department in the village of Goity, which was witnessed by the divisional inspector of this locality. In the same area A. Akhmadov was arrested, many residents of the Goity village bear witness to this. He was, however, later killed and the press reported that he died in clashes with federal troops. The car in which he was arrested on that day was on the territory of the region's commandant's office, and is now at the disposal of police officials.

Arrests and disappearances are continuing in many other areas of the Chechen Republic. One of the latest incidents is as follows; on April 24^th 2002, representatives of federal forces arrived in armoured vehicles with the identity numbers smeared, and burst into house number 33, Kalinin Street in the Dzhalka settlement of the Gudermes regiona and took Mairbek Saundievich Podalaev and Zaurbek Saundievich away, where to remains unknown. As in previous instances, federal troops did not only fail to identify themselves, reveal where the arrested were being taken to , but when the relatives attempted to ascertain this, the troops began to fire inside the house.

These incidents leave no doubt that even after the release of order number 80, military officers of the Russian Federation continue the practice of kidnappings and arbitrary executions in the Chechen Republic.

This issue was raised by us back on January 12^th of this year at the first conference of the working group, but remains even more urgent at present.

Earlier, in May 2001 order number 145 was published by the Commander of the OGV and in June of that year order number 46 was released by the General Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, V. Ustinov which, nevertheless, was never carried out. Order number 80, signed on 27^th March of this year by the Commander of the OGV in the Northern Caucaus', General Molentskoi, as is evident, was also never implemented. We have no grounds to confirm that the army and special services are no longer in the control of the commanders in the Chechen Republic, where the principle of combined command is strictly observed, however the publication of such documents [the orders] simply as a propangandist tool is intolerable.

We demand:

1.investigations into illegal arrests, disappearances and unlawful executions and that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

2.that measures be taken to ensure the implementation of order number 80 and the observation of Russian legislation by the Commanding OGV.

Human Rights Centre 'Memorial' is preparing to give additional information regarding the aforementioned cases of kidnapping and murder of these people.

Chairman of the Board, Human Rights Centre 'Memorial'
O. P. Orlov