Human rights activists met with President of Chechnya

On May 25, a meeting of representatives of human rights organizations of the "Civil Assistance" committee and the  "Memorial" human rights centre with Chechen President Alu Alkhanov took place in Grozny, the Chechen capital.

When talking to the President, S.А.Gannushkina (chairperson of the "Civil Assistance" committee, member of the Council of the "Memorial" HRC, member of Council on facilitation of civil society development and human rights under the RF President) raised the following issues before the ChR President:

1. Kidnappings:

The kidnappings recently continuing in the republic have acquired a latent character since people are afraid to apply for help to the law enforcement agencies. This is primarily related to the kidnappings committed by representatives of state structures. In effect, they are not investigated. The case of Chilaev/Israilov is a vivid example. The human rights activists assert with confidence that Bulat Chilaev (employee of the local office of the "Civil Assistance" committee) is not implicated in any crime. It is also known for sure that the kidnapping was organized by officers of the state power authorities (in all probability, from the "West" battalion).

Alu Alkhanov has noted that "he knows the case" and that "it is being monitored," however he was surprised with the slow progress of investigation.

Valery Alexeyevich Kuznetsov, ChR Prosecutor who attended the meeting, said that, on the contrary, "it was progressing at a normal rate ." As regards the person whose name badge was found on the scene of the kidnapping, it seemed to be impossible to interrogate him because he was soldier of the "West" battalion, he had a lot of service duties. In other words, he was busy.

At the end of discussion of the problem, the President reiterated that the case was under his supervision.

In connection with the picket in protection of Chilaev-Israilov held earlier during the day, S.А.Gannushkina has pointed out the fact that the aims of the picket were not limited to the protection of the above kidnapped persons. The 11 people kidnapped last year in the village of Borodzinovskaya have not been found so far and the persons at fault have not been punished. Such impunity is not admissible.

2. Liquidation of TSs, relocation of refugees from the places of their compact residence in Ingushetia:

The human rights activists regard the liquidation of temporary shelters for internally displaced persons as an integral problem. They regard as unacceptable the recent statement by Ramzan Kadyrov, chairman of the ChR Government, to the effect that the temporary shelters for internally displaced persons (TS) must be liquidated because they represent seats of "criminality, drug abuse and prostitution " and that the people residing there simply did not want to work and preferred to live on humanitarian assistance. N.Nukhadzhiev, ChR ombudsman, attending the meeting with human rights activists has practically supported the attitude of R.Kadyrov.

In his turn, Alu Alkhanov has promised "not to through people into the street ." According to him, only those who possess their own dwelling are to be moved from the TSs. Talking about positive developments in settling the issue, Alkhanov has reminded that, while previously the money allocated for refugees' meals amounted to 15 roubles per person per day, starting from the IVth quarter of the current year, it will be raised up to 25 roubles, and by 2007, it must reach 35 roubles. Alkhanov has highlighted that this increase is supported by the federal authorities.

S.А.Gannushkina has proposed that TSs should be checked by combined efforts of human rights activists and representatives of the Federal Directorate of the Federal Migration Service in ChR, as a measure of solving the problem.

3. Mass diseases among the republic's residents, which started in the Shelkovsk district:

S.А.Gannushkina has expressed her opinion that the sick persons who have not been fully examined yet should be given an opportunity to undergo such examination in Moscow. She has noted (and the attendants have agreed) that one should avoid any politicalization of this medical problem.

4. Cooperation of human rights activists with state agencies:

The human rights activists have again confirmed their permanent stand: the cooperation of non-government organizations with various state agencies must be developed. However, one of mandatory conditions for such cooperation is the preparedness of the authorities to timely and substantially respond to the requests of public organizations.

A number of functionaries from the Chechnya ministries, attending the meeting, have confirmed their readiness to submit to human rights organizations the information they request, runs the message of the "Memorial" HRC obtained by the "Caucasian Knot" editorial board.