Impact
The impact of our work is reflected on several levels.
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victims of human rights abuse achieve moral and financial redress with judgments in their favor at the European Court of Human Rights;
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these judgments facilitate a more thorough and effective investigation on the domestic level, which increases the chances that perpetrators of human rights abuse will be held responsible;
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these judgments form the basis for ongoing reform efforts to tackle some of the systematic shortcomings and problems with Russian law and practice.
“I didn’t believe that there was justice possible for me anywhere in the world. Not in Russia, not in Europe, not anywhere. When they told me that we had won our case [before the European Court] I felt happy. I was able to believe again that justice is possible. I think that this decision can help other people in Chechnya also know that there is justice. That they can go through the court and use civilized methods to find justice.”
- Arbi Chitayev, 11 April 2007
Recent impact:
ECHR condemns Russia for murder of two and awards 50.000 EUR to daughter
On 4 October 2007, the ECHR condemned Russia for the murder of Fatima Goygova's mother and brother in the case Goygova v. Russia. Goygova was awarded 50.000 EUR in moral compensation. On the same day, the ECHR delivered judgment in the cases Goncharuk v. Russia and Makhauri v. Russia. For more information, read the press-release.
On 12 June 2007, the Secretariat of the Directorate General of Human Rights at the Council of Europe declassified an updated version of its Memorandum on the implementation of judgments concerning violations in Chechnya. In the Memorandum, the Secretariat refers to the judgment in the case Bazorkina v. Russia to highlight the problem of disappearances and to request a number of clarifications with regard to detention procedure and safeguards against disappearances. In light of the finding that the disappeared's mother also had been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment as a result of the authoritities' indifference, the Secretariat also requested information on any new instructions in this regard.
ECHR condemns Russia for disappearance and awards 55.000 EUR to wife and mother
On 10 May 2007, the ECHR condemned Russia for the illegal detention, disappearance and death of Shamil Akhmadov in the case Akhmadova and Sadulaeyva v. Russia. Shamil's wife, Larisa Sadulaeyva, and mother, Tamusa Akhmadova, were awarded 20.000 EUR each in moral compensation and 15.000 EUR jointly in material compensation. For more information, read the press-release.
On 5 April 2007, the ECHR held Russia responsible for the illegal detention, disappearance and death of Shakhid Baysayev in the case Baysayeva v. Russia. His wife, Asmart Baysayeva was awarded 50.000 EUR in moral compensation. For more information, read the press-release.
On 18 January 2007, the ECHR condemned Russia in the first case that the ECHR has decided regarding torture in Chechnya. In the case Chitayev and Chitayev v. Russia, the brothers Adam and Arbi Chitayev, who were held in detention for almost six months in 2000 and subjected to severe torture, were awarded 35.000 EUR each in moral compensation. For more information, read the press-release. |
