Rights defenders appeal to Putin in connection with kidnappings of relatives of Kadyrov’s critics

Russian and international human rights organizations appealed to the Russian President with a request to do everything possible to end the repressions in Chechnya, ensure that human rights violations, committed by the Chechen authorities, are investigated and that all those responsible are brought to justice.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that from December 22 to 24, several Ramzan Kadyrov’s critics reported about the kidnappings of their relatives in Chechnya.

While some of the circumstances surrounding the above-mentioned kidnappings are still being under investigation, the available evidence strongly suggests that those were most likely enforced disappearances committed by public officers, the human rights organizations declare in their appeal.

“There are also unconfirmed reports that many of kidnapped were taken to local police stations. Some were later released, after the police forced them to agree that they would get their relatives to stop activities that displeased Ramzan Kadyrov,” reads the document, posted on the website of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Memorial”*. The human rights defenders fear that the kidnapped people are subjected to torture.

“We demand that everything be done to end the repression in the Chechen Republic, starting with the immediate disclosure of information about the fate and whereabouts of all kidnapped people, and to ensure a full, impartial, and effective investigation into the December kidnappings, as well as other human rights violations committed by the authorities of Chechnya,” the human rights defenders state in their appeal.

The appeal to the President of Russia was signed by the “Amnesty International”(AI), Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the HRC “Memorial”*, the “Civic Assistance” Committee**, the “Committee Against Torture” (CatT), and the Moscow Helsinki Group.

*The organization has been put by the Russian Ministry of Justice on the register of NCOs performing the functions of a foreign agent. On December 29, the Moscow City Court pronounced the decision to liquidate the organization.

** The organization has been put by the Russian Ministry of Justice on the register of NCOs performing the functions of a foreign agent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 7, 2022 at 05:29 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.