Chilaev and Israilov kidnapped in Chechnya are among those "disappeared"; evidences point to involvement of power agents

The Human Rights Centre "Memorial" and "Caucasian Knot" already reported that in Chechnya about 12:00 a.m. at the federal highway "Kavkaz" in the crossroads Sernovodsk-Assinovskaya, unknown armed persons kidnapped and took to unknown place two young persons: Chilaev Bulat and Israilov Aslan.

One of them, Chilaev, Bulat Sultanovich, born in 1979, resident of Sernovodsk, works for the human rights organization Committee "Civil Assistance," in the program on helping patients from Chechnya.

Aslan Israilov is a resident of Grozny; he was in Sernovodsk, visiting his grandfather, Adrakhman Jabaev, a neighbour of Bulat Chilaev. In the morning of April 9, a clean-up ("zachistka"), in the course of which Israilov was detained for some time, - probably he drew attention of the inspectors as a non-local citizen, - however, after a check he was released. After "zachistka," Israilov asked Chilaev to take him home. On the way to Grozny, they were kidnapped, and Chilaev's car was hijacked by the kidnappers.

A week has already passed from the moment of this application, and almost four weeks after the moment of kidnapping, but Chilaev and Israilov have not been found and released until today.

The undertaken search and appeals to power and administrative structures gave no results, although Chilaev's relatives lodged applications on his disappearance to the Republic's prosecutor's office, the FSB Department for the Chechen Republic, the Republic's Agency for Fighting Organized Crime ("RUBOP"), the Anti-Terrorist Centre, the Achkhoj-Martan and Urus-Martan District Interior Headquarters ("RОВD"). In all these places, the fact of Chilaev's detention was resolutely negated.

On April 10 and later, Svetlana Gannushkina talked by phone with A. S. Dakaev, acting minister of internal affairs of the Chechen Republic, and V. N. Kazimir, deputy head of the FSB Department for the ChR. Both made inquiries through their channels and reported that Israilov and Chilaev were not kept in any of the place where detainees are usually kept; they promised to take measures to search the missing men. She was told the same at the Operations and Search Bureau of the MIA (OSB-2).

On April 18, Ms. Gannushkina, chairperson of the Committee "Civil Assistance," reported to the power structures of the Chechen Republic on additional data about the kidnappers and circumstances of kidnapping. According to the witnesses, the kidnappers (8 persons in masks) went away in two cars - VAZ 21099 of silver colour, state registration plate 487 XC 95 and hatchback VAZ 2112 of silver colour, state registration plate Т591 PT 95. According to available data, the latter number plate was issued under the letter of the commander of the Troops Grouping in Chechnya Mr. Khotin dated 06.09.2004. A officer's personal ID label No. F 142733 was found in the place of the incident.

Evidences are more than serious. However, until now, Chilaev and Israilov are still missing, and their kidnappers have not been brought to responsibility. The absence of any visible results of investigation cannot be explained otherwise that by deliberate passiveness of law enforcement bodies, runs the message of the HRC "Memorial" and Committee "Civil Assistance," received by the editorial board of the "Caucasian Knot."