Law-enforcement/security operation in refugee camp Satsita, Ingushetia

Officers of some yet unidentified law-enforcement/security agencies with several armored vehicles and military UAZ vehicles blocked the refugee camp Satsita in Orjonikidzevskaia, Ingushetia, on March 6. Armored vehicles moved to the camp early in the morning and blocked all entries to and exits from the camp.

The special operation involved over 20 armored vehicles and about 150-200 people, according to provisional information, supposedly from federal law-enforcement/security agencies and Chechen law enforcement agencies. Without giving any explanations of their actions, the military surrounded the camp and started searching individual tents.

No cases of use of force against people were noted, according to available information. It is also known that six young guys, camp residents, detained by the military during the "clean-up" were allowed to go right after they were identified.

The blockade was lifted by 11 a.m. In spite of the outwardly positive outcome, the event caused strong panic among camp residents.

Most refugees evaluate the event as a direct warning that force may be used if they refuse to leave for Chechnya voluntarily. More so, as refugees claim, such threats from Chechen officials have been received more than once already.