ECHR Cases from the North Caucasus

Dugurkhan Ilyasova is the mother of Magomed-Salekh and Magomed-Ali Ilyasov who were detained by Russian military servicemen in the village of Katyr-Yurt, Chechnya, on 12 November 2002. The applicant was informed by a local resident with connections to the FSB that her sons had been detained in the Staropromyslovskiy ROVD before being transferred to another detention center. The investigation into the brothers’ disappearance produced no results.

On 15 March 2001 at about 12.45 p.m., two APC's and several other military vehicles arrived at the Vakayevs' home in the village of Duba-Yurt, Chechnya. Around thirty armed men got out of the vehicles and opened fire. Shamil Vakayev and his neighbour, Ms. Ch. were wounded. Then the armed men beat Salambek Tatayev, Ramzan Dudayev, Yunus Abdurzakov, Shamil Vakayev who were in the house. Shamkhan Vakayev was captured in an upstairs bedroom. The five men were thereafter brought outside and put in the military vehicles that drove away. They have all been missing since. The investigation into their disappearances has not yielded any results. On 2 April 2005, a group of armed masked men burst into the Vakayevs' home. This time, Shamshudi Vakayev were forced to come with them as they left. He has not been seen since. It remains unclear whether his case has been investigated to date.

At about 3 a.m. on 27 December 2004 a group of about twelve armed men in camouflage uniforms broke into the house of the Alapayev family in the village of Sernovodsk. The servicemen started kicking and beating Salambek Alapayev and his elderly grandfather. After another 15 minutes, the servicemen dragged Salambek outside, put him in one of their cars and drove away. He has been missing since. The investigation into his disappearance has not yielded any results.

On the night of 16 December 2001 between 2 and 3 a.m. a number of armed men in camouflage uniforms burst into the houses of the Khutsayev and the Didayev families in the village of Gekhi.  The servicemen beat several family members, searched the houses and seized all valuables. Upon leaving, they took Beslan and Movsar Khutsayev and Adam Didayev with them. None of the three men have been seen since. The investigations into their disappearances have not produced any results.

At about 7 a.m. on 16 February 2003 a group of armed masked men arrived at the Dzhabrailov's house in the settlement of Pervomayskiy. They broke into the house and apprehended Valid and Aslan Dzhabrailov. The brothers were taken to a detention center where they were severely ill-treated for two days. On 18 February 2003, Aslan was put in a military car where he discovered the dead body of Valid. The servicemen drove to an abandoned building where they dumped Valid's body, shot Aslan in the head and put explosives under their bodies before leaving. Playing dead, Aslan managed to escape and return home. The investigation into the abduction of the brothers and the killing of Valid has not produced any results.

On 16 May 2000 at about 7 p.m., Ramzan Suleymanov, his pregnant wife Petimat Aydamirova, their son Ibragim Suleymanov and their relative Aslanbek Aydamirov left the village of Gekhi to visit a sick relative. Their truck was later found burning outside Gekhi, Petimat's body lying next to it. Russian military had approached the vehicle in an APC and opened heavy fire. Due to the curfew,  local residents and administration could not examine the scene until next morning. At that point, the corpses had been removed. On 19 May 2000, the remains of Ramzan, Petimat, Ibragim and Aslanbek were found bearing signs of violent death. The investigation into the killings has not been meaningful.

At about 10 p.m. on 23 November 2002 Adam Khurayev, who was staying with his aunt in Urus-Martan, went outside to the outhouse in the yard. Shortly thereafter about fifteen armed masked men in camouflage uniforms broke into the house where they conducted a search. Before driving away in an APC and two UAZ cars the men shouted to someone in the yard. When the men had left, Adam's relatives realized that he had disappeared. The investigation into his disappearance has not been meaningful.

At about 5.30 a.m. on 3 January 2003 a group of armed men in camouflage uniforms abducted Vakhit Dzhabrailov from his home in the town of Shali. They put him in one of their vehicles and drove away in the direction of the department of the interior of the Shali district (the ROVD). Vakhit has not been seen since. The official investigation into his disappearance has not produced any results.

At about 2.30 a.m. on 19 January 2004 several military vehicles arrived at the house of the Mutayeva family in the settlement of Assinovskaya. A group of about 20 armed men in camouflage uniforms woke up the family to conduct a passport check. The servicemen checked the passports, searched the house and ordered Luiza Mutayeva to follow them outside for questioning. Luiza was put in one of the vehicles which later drove away. She has not been seen since. The investigation into her disappearance has not produced any results.

At about 4. a.m. on 31 May 2001 armed servicemen wearing black masks arrived at the house of the Tasatayev family in Urus-Martan in a UAZ "Tabletka." They were equipped with portable radios and had a search dog with them. They searched the house and detained Aslan Tasatayev and his cousin Aslanbek Tasatayev, who were driven away in the Tabletka. They have not been seen since. The investigation into their disappearances has not produced any results.

Early in the morning on 15 October 2002 the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Chechen prosecutor's office carried out a joint operation in the village of Nagornoye, Chechnya. Usman Umalatov and Shamad Durdiyev were apprehended in their homes and brought to the FSB office together with nine other inhabitants of Nagornoye. The other nine persons were later released. Usman and Shamad have not been heard from since. The authorities have failed to conduct an effective investigation into their disappearances.

At about 4 p.m. on 13 September 2000 Magomed-Ali Abayev and Anvar Shaipov walked towards the centre of Urus-Martan. Two Russian servicemen stopped them at a check point on the way. The servicemen took their passports and one of the soldiers went with them into a nearby factory building. A few minutes later he returned to the check point without them. Magomed-Ali and Anvar have not been heard from since. The investigation into the disappearance has not been meaningful.

On 29 Janury 2003 Russian military forces carried out a special operation in the village of Raduzhnoyen. More than 20 persons were arrested. At 8 a.m. a group of armed men entered the Mudayev's house. They apprehended Aslan and Mokhmad Mudayev and a relative. On 30 January all arrested villagers, except Aslan and Mokhmad, were released. The brothers have not been seen since. The investigation into their disappearance has not produced any results.

In the afternoon of 9 December 2002 Aslan Sadulayev and three other persons drove towards Urus-Martan in a VAZ car. At the intersection of the road to the village of Komsomolskoye and the road from Alkhazurovo to Urus-Martan they were stopped by Russian military servicemen at a check point. A bus was stopped at the same time. Several passengers, one of them recognizing Aslan, witnessed how the servicemen surrounded the VAZ car with their APC's and how all vehicles drove away in the direction of Urus-Martan. Aslan has not been seen since. The investigation into his disappearance has not been meaningful.

On 26 December 2002 a projectile entered the house of the Seriyev family in the village of Belgatoy. It hit and wounded Bilkis Askhabayeva, the mother in the family. She died from her injuries the same day. The criminal investigation into her death was terminated as no personal responsibility could be established. At about 5 p.m. on 1 June 2004 several cars arrived at the house of the Seriyev family. About thirty armed and masked servicemen got out of the cars and entered the house. The men apprehended Sarali Seriyev and drove away. Sarali has been missing since. The investigation into his disappearance has not been meaningful.

In the evening of 19 June 2002 a large group of armed servicemen arrived at the Iriskhanov's house in the village of Samashki. When Zurab and Gilani Iriskhanov ran outside, the servicemen opened fire at them. Zurab was wounded. The two brothers were handcuffed, beaten with gun-butts and put in different vehicles that drove away. Zurab has been missing since. The investigation into his disappearance has not produced any results. On 27 June 2002, Gilani was released. He had been beaten in detention and had to undergo medical treatment.

At 2.00 a.m. on 29 October 2002 around thirty armed and masked men broke the door of the Aliyevs' flat in Grozny. The servicemen awakened Abu Aliyev, forced him onto the floor and beat him. Then they took Abu with them and left. A neighbour saw the men dragging Abu, who was disabled with only one leg, to one of their vehicles before they drove away. Abu has been missing since. The official investigation into his disappearance has not produced any results.

On 14 March 2000 Islam Dubayev and Roman Bersnukayev surrendered to the Russian Militia after having been promised amnesty. The men went to a military check point close to Martan-Chu. Having handed over their weapons, the men were put in an Ural car and driven to the headquarters of the Russian Federal Forces Group West. Islam and Roman have not been seen since. The investigation into their disappearance has not produced any results.

At about 2 a.m. on 13 July 2002 the Guluyev family was awaken by a group of armed men outside their house in Grozny. Two armed men smelling of alcohol entered the house and caught Ramzan Guluyev. When the family went out to the courtyard the servicemen started to beat them with their guns. The servicemen left after a while taking Ramzan with them. He has not been seen since.  The criminal investigation into his case has not been effective.

At about 6 a.m. on 6 January 2003 a group of armed servicemen broke into the house in Zakan-Yurt where Balavdi Ustarkhanov was staying for the night. The servicemen apprehended Balavdi and drove away in the direction of the local check point of the Russian military forces. Balavdi has been missing since. The investigation into his disappearance has not been meaningful.