International Helsinki Federation accuses Russian law-enforcement agencies of abduction of physical therapy practitioner in Ingushetia

We call your attention to the open letter addressed by Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights Aaron Rhodes to Prosecutor of the Republic of Ingushetia Magamet Belkhoroev in connection with the abduction of Khamzat Osmaev, a popular physical therapy practitioner.

To:

Magamet V. Belkhoroev
Prosecutor of the Republic of Ingushetia

Copy:

Vladimir Ustinov
Prosecutor General of the RF

Oleg Mironov
Ombudsman of the RF

Ella Pamfilova
Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the RF

OPEN LETTER

Dear Mr. Belkhoroev,

I am writing on behalf the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) concerning the abduction of Khamzat Khamidovitch Osmaev in the village of Plievo (municipal unit of Nazran) at about 5 p.m. 12 January 2004.

According to witnesses at that time a white "Gazel" automobile with tinted glass and without a number-plate drove up to the apartment building on Oskanov St., where Osmaev's office is located. Seven men in face-masks, dressed in camouflage trousers and black jackets, got out of the car and entered Osmaev's office. When they failed to find Osmaev (who had just finished his work for the day and was outside and about to go home), they turned to a neighboring Ingush family and started to threaten them with firearms. Then, the kidnappers saw Osmaev already in his car. They forced Osmaev out of his car and into their vehicle. Following that, they immediately left in the direction of the Nazran town center. Witnesses noted that the kidnappers spoke Russian with no trace of an accent. There are strong grounds to believe that members of Russian enforcement structures are involved in this kidnapping.

Relatives of Osmaev say that about a year ago he had been warned to stay away from Grozny because the Federal Security Service (FSB) was seeking him. The FSB had a photograph dating back to the first half of 1990s, which might have been taken at a sports festival, showing Osmaev standing next to one of the Chechen field commanders.

Osmaev is a renowned sportsman and a popular physical therapy practitioner with more than 30 years of experience. In 1999, at the start of the second military campaign in Chechnya, Osmaev and his family left Grozny and settled in Stanitsa Troitskaya of Sundzha district, Ingushetia. In 2000, Osmaev opened a physical therapy office in Plievo. Osmaev is a father and supports a family of five children.

We appeal to you to conduct a thorough investigation into the abduction of Mr. Osmaev, to ensure that he can return to his family, and that the perpetrators be identified, tried and punished according to the law.

We kindly request that you keep us informed of developments pertaining to this case.

Yours truly,

Aaron Rhodes
(IHF Executive Director)

Vienna, 15 January 2004

Editors note: See also the article "Known doctor and masseur Khamzat Osmayev abducted in Ingushetia".