Dissertation

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Dissertation DISSERTATION Titel der Dissertation „Association of impunity and traumatic reactions in torture survivors and human rights activists in North Caucasus“ Verfasserin Eliza Musaeva angestrebter akademischer Grad Doktorin der Philosophie (Dr. phil) Wien, 2013 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 784 298 Dissertationsgebiet lt. Studienblatt: Psychologie Betreuerin / Betreuer: ao. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Germain Weber Univ.-Prof. Dr. Manfred Nowak, LL.M. 2 3 Acknowledgements I would like to express my appreciation and respect to my thesis directors, Prof. Dr. Germain Weber and Prof. Dr Manfred Nowak. I am deeply grateful to Ass.-Prof. Dr. Brigitte Lueger-Schuster for her guidance, patience and encouragement in my work during all these three years, as well as for her instructive and important comments at crucial stages of my research, and for her constructive criticism and insights. I also wish to thank my colleague from human rights organizations, Svetlana Gannushkina, and other colleagues from the offices in Moscow and in the North Caucasus, who contributed much to the first impetus of this thesis and supported me throughout the work. Their genuine interest and inspiration, their incessant desire for understanding and better action always motivated me to work harder. I am thankful to all people who helped me at different stages of this research, in particular to my colleagues who participated in the research and also helped to organize the data collection from the victims of torture. I thank all respondents who not only filled out the questionnaires, but also shared their views on the matters, which are not only 3painful, but about which it may also be dangerous to speak: state violence, impunity, torture experience. I am truly indebted to these people. My friends and family were always of enormous help and support for me. They were near when I needed encouragement and approval. 4 5 Table of Contents Acknowledgements 3 Preface 7 Part 1. Literature review 9 1.1 Impunity. Conceptual framework and models 9 1.1.1 Definition of impunity 9 1.1.2 The problem of impunity in the interdisciplinary context 10 1.1.3. Impunity. Psychological approach 16 1.1.3.1. Subjective aspect of perceiving impunity 18 1.1.3.2. Impunity and distorted reality 20 1.1.3.3. Social mechanisms for the restoration of distorted reality 21 1.1.4. Conclusions 24 1.2. Social and Historical Aspects of Impunity in the Process of Traumatization in the North Caucasus 25 1.2.1 Chechens and Ingush: Traditions and Mentality 25 1.2.2. Religion 26 1.2.3. Chechnya. From War to State Terror 27 1.2.4. Complete impunity 30 1.2.5. The „Chechenization“ of the Conflict 32 1.2.6. International Organizations and the Human Rights Crisis in the North Caucasus 34 1.2.7. The European Court on Human Rights (ECtHR) 36 1.2.8. Ingushetia. How it Got Involved in the Conflict 37 1.2.8.1. Ingushetia and Chechnya in the Soviet time. Their common „history of injustice“ 37 1.2.8.2. Ingushetia and the Second War in Chechnya 38 1.2.9. Conclusion 41 1.3. Traumatization in torture survivors and HR activists 43 1.3.1. Impunity as a shared social context for survivors of torture and human rights activists 43 1.3.2. Traumatization of torture survivors 47 1.3.2.1. Definition and historical aspect of using torture 48 1.3.2.2. Epidemiology of torture 51 1.3.2.3. Torture in Russia 52 1.3.2.4. Torture in the context of impunity 53 1.3.2.5. Psychological impact of torture trauma in the context of impunity 54 1.3.3.Factors of traumatization and stressors, which are related to human rights work. Secondary traumatization & chronic threat 58 1.3.3.1. Secondary traumatization in HRactivists 60 6 1.3.3.1.1. Definition and concept specification 60 1.3.3.1.2. Specific factors which lead to secondary traumatization in HR activists 61 1.3.3.2. Traumatization by threat 68 1.3.4. Conclusion 70 Part 2. Empirical part 72 Part 3. Conclusion and general discussion 109 3.1. Limitations and future research 111 4. Abstract 113 5. Zusammenfassung 115 Appendix 1. Glossary 147 Appendix 2. Blank for Associations Test 150 Appendix 3. Correlations matrix. Correlations of Emotional Response to perceived impunity with trauma-related characteristics 151 Appendix 4. Correlations between basic beliefs items and trauma-related measures 153 7 Preface During the last decades the problem of torture and other ill-treatment in the name of counter-terrorism has been becoming ever more topical. International agreements and treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Genocide and the Convention against Torture are violated with impunity, meaning that state parties to these agreements are reneging on their international obligations. The importance of the problem is reflected in the growing body of research concerning different aspects of impunity and mental health. Among them are the following themes: the role played in psychological disturbances by beliefs about trust and justice (Başoğlu et al., 2005; Foa et al., 1999; Şalcıoğlu, 2004); the therapeutic effect of reparation and retributive justice (Carmichael et al., 1996; Hamber, 2001; Roth- Arriaza, 1995); the psychological impact of impunity on the individual and society levels (Agger & Jensen, 1996; Becker & Castillo, 1990; Dri et al., 2009; Lira, 1995; Lykes, 1994; Rauchfuss & Schmolze, 2008; Zur, 1994); the transmission of the psychological effects of impunity to succeeding generations (Beckerman, 2000; Dri et al., 2009); the effect of participating in trials or truth-commissions on the psychological and emotional suffering of survivors (Aldana, 2006; Brouneus, 2008; Herman, 2003; Laplante & Theidon, 2007; Mendeloff, 2009; O’Connell, 2005). A significant number of publications deal with the impact of impunity on the aggravation of psychological conditions and the impediment it presents to healing processes among survivors (Agger & Jensen, 1995; Backer, 2001; Başoğlu et al., 2005; Lira, 1995; Rauchfuss & Schmolze, 2008; van Willigen, 1992). This multifaceted problem is being studied from various perspectives and relies on the interaction of different sciences - moral, legal, political, historical, military, philosophical (Dri, 2009; Greenberg, 2005; Parry, 2010; Roth et al., 2005; Silove, 1999 etc.). Nowadays impunity is understood as a threat to the psychological well-being both of victims and of society in general, its norms and values (Baeza, 2000, p.28). Yet despite the growing literature on legal and psychological aspects of torture, the problem of impunity and its role in the traumatization of torture survivors of the fight against terrorism is not taken into account in the abundant theories and models of traumatisation, nor in the exploration of the link between human rights and psychological well-being, nor in the psychological assistance to torture survivors. 8 Traditionally the majority of research on impunity refers to the situation in Latin America (the so called “dirty wars” there) (Agger and Jensen, 1996; Baeza, 2000, 2001; Becker, 2001, 2003; Edelman et al., 1998; Kordon and Edelman, 1988; Lagos, 1994; Lira, 1995; McSherry, 1992; Sveaass and Lavik, 2000; Zur, 1994 etc.). I approach this problem based on material from the North Caucasus. Many torture victims in Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia (Russian North Caucasus) do not choose to remain silent about what happened with them, but have to, because of fear of reprisals against themselves, members of their families and/or close friends. It is fundamental not to limit the topic of justice to those who suffered. Official and public procedures condemning those who organized and/or executed crimes are necessary. Impunity can be considered as one of the key factors of indirect secondary traumatism among family members, not only through its psychological effect, but also because it places them in actual danger. For example, the relatives of militants (their brothers, cousins) are often abducted and tortured today in Ingushetia and Chechnya (Memorial, 2010). Unauthorized arrests and abductions, incarceration in secret prisons, temporary enforced disappearances often accompanied by torture: these and other traumatic events first became constituent parts of the tragic war policy in Chechnya, and later in the fight against terrorism in the neighboring North Caucasian republics of Ingushetia and Dagestan. There is no official statistics for forced abduction and torture in Chechnya. But according to Human Rights Center Memorial’s data they are compatible with those for Big Terror in the USSR in the 1930s (Baisaev & Grushkin, 2003). The main interest of researchers dealing with this region has been focused on the question of the psychological consequences of war itself. The mental health of the population which survived the war (Hargreaves et al., 2007; Idrisov, 2010) and the perception of terrorist threat by the inhabitants of the Chechen Republic (Bykhovets, 2007) are topics - impunity and torture survivors – which, although urgent these days, have barely been investigated by scholars. There is practically no psychological research on impunity in the region despite the body of literature produced by sociologists, historians, political scientists (Dunlop, 1999; Gammer 2008; Gilligan, 2009; Kramer, 2004/2005; Wood 2007), ethnographers (Chesnov, 1999; Raubisko, 2011; Sokirianskaia, 2008; Tishkov, 2004), journalists, and human rights activists (Cherkasov, 2012; Dmitrievsky, 2008; Mnatsakanyan, 2007; Yashurkaev, 1995). I expect that profound exploration of the influence of impunity on torture survivors will provide insights into the social mechanisms of both traumatization and recovery. This research may open a space for both further research in this subject area, as well as for the development of psychological assistance programs for torture survivors and HR activists. 9 Part 1. Literature review 1.1 Impunity. Conceptual framework and models 1.1.1 Definition of impunity The word “impunity” entered English in the first half of the sixteenth century. It derived from Middle French impunité and Latin impunitatem “omission of punishment.” The Latin was formed from im- “not” and poena “punishment.” It is related to such words as “subpoena,” “penalty” and “penal,” all of which derive from poena.
Recommended publications
  • Kavkasiologta II Saertasoriso Kongresis Masalebi MA PROCEETINGS of II INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS of CAUCASOLOGISTS МАТЕРИА
    kavkasiologTa II saerTaSoriso kongresis masalebi MA PROCEETINGS OF II INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF CAUCASOLOGISTS МАТЕРИАЛЫ II МЕЖДУНАРОДНОГО КОНГРЕССА КАВКАЗОВЕДОВ 2010 Tbilisi Ivane Javakhishvili State University Faculty of Humanities Institute of Caucasiology Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics Институт кавказоведения факультета гуманитарных наук Тбилисского государственного университета им. Иванэ Джавахишвили Институт языкознания им. Арнольда Чикобава Proceetings of II International Congress of Caucasiologists Материалы II международного конгресса кавказоведов Tbilisi 2010 Тбилиси ivane javaxiSvilis saxelobis Tbilisis saxelmwifo universitetis humanitarul mecnierebaTa fakultetis kavkasiologiis instituti arnold Ciqobavas saxelobis enaTmecnierebis instituti kavkasiologTa II saerTaSoriso kongresis masalebi Tbilisi 2010 saredaqcio kolegia: l. azmaifaraSvili (pasuxismgebeli mdivani), c. baramiZe (mTavari redaqtori), i. gagoSiZe, g. gociriZe, s. zedelaSvili, j. kviciani, l. minaSvili, T. ujuxu, r. fareuliZe (redaqtori), n. qavTaraZe, m. qurdiani, e. qurTiSvili, r. janaSia E Editorial Board: L. Azmaiparashvili (Associated editor), Ts. Baramidze (Editor-in-chief), I. Gagoshidze, G. Gotsiridze, R. Janashia, N. Kavtaradze, M. Kurdiani, E. Kurtishvili, J. Kvitsiani, L. Minashvili, R. Pareulidze (Editor), T. Udxuxu, S. Zedelashvili Редакционная коллегия: Л. Азмайпарашвили (ответственный секретарь), Ц. Барамидзе (главный редактор), Ю. Гагошидзе, Г. Гоциридзе, Р. Джанашиа, С. Зеделашвили, Н. Кавтарадзе, Дж. Квициани, М. Курдиани, Е. Куртишвили,
    [Show full text]
  • Georgian Technical University Scientific-Engineering Teaching
    Georgian Technical University Scientific-Engineering Teaching Centres Period from 01.01.2013 - till 30.09.2017 Date of signing the Contract Name of the completed Name of the Centre Head of the Centre TelephoneN№ Customer name contract conclusion number work Sum 12/13/2013 GS-02-14-1 RMG Gold" Analysis of precious metals contents Republican Center of Diagnostics and Processing Nodar Foforadze 577 42 83 47 Research for Mineral Substances and Emology 1 3053.18 11/21/2013 GS-02-14-1 RMG Gold" Analysis of precious metals 2905.29 contents Nodar Foforadze 2 11/21/2013 GS-02-14-1 RMG Gold" Analysis of precious metals 1935.76 contents Nodar Foforadze 3 Republican Centre of Structural Nikoloz Jalabadze 599 923 604 04.05.2013 256-2013-2 Physical Person Powder sample test 480 Researches 4 Republican Centre of Structural Nikoloz Jalabadze 10.07.2013 340-2013-2 VTB Bank Georgia Powder sample analysis 2953 Researches 5 Teaching-Scientific Centre of Training of motor crane Construction Road Crane- Mikheil Shilakadze 593-329-031 02,07,2013 349-2013-2 Physical Person 472 machine-operator (driver) Transport and Rail Machines 6 Technical inspection of Mikheil Shilakadze 28,03,2013 119-2013-2 LTD "Poladkonstruktcia" 1000 crane 7 Re-training of machine- Mikheil Shilakadze 01,11,2013 640-2013-2 LTD Unist Georgia 472 operator (driver) 8 Restoration of crane Mikheil Shilakadze 02,07,2013 348-2013-2 LTD Building Company Gani group 2000 technical passport 9 LTD Georgian Trans Expedition Restoration of crane Mikheil Shilakadze 03,06,2013 264-2013-2 400 Poti passport
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Evidence Supporting Interpretation of Ezekiel 38
    HISTORICAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTING INTERPRETATION OF EZEKIEL 38 Notes researched & collected by Peter A. Schwartzkopff 1 | P a g e Contents WHAT THE PROPHECY IS ABOUT ....................................................................................................................................................................3 IDENTIFICATION OF THE NATIONS OF EZEKIEL 38 ...........................................................................................................................4 A critical rule of interpretation. ........................................................................................................................................................................4 SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE..............................................................................................................................................................................7 MAGOG ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................7 Conclusion : ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 ROSH
    [Show full text]
  • Assays from the History of Georgia
    Assays from the History of Georgia ABKHAZIA ABKHAZIA om the History of Georgia Assays fr Ministry of Education and Culture of Abkhazia Institute of History and Ethnology of Iv. Javakhishvili Assays from the History of Georgia ABKHAZIA from ancient times till the present days Tbilisi 2011 UDC (uak) 94 (479.224) G-16 The first generalizing work of Georgian scientists in the English Language on the History of Abkhazia from ancient times to the present days. It gives the readers the possibility of getting acquainted with the opinions of Georgian and Abkhazia histori- ans on different disputable issues and accept or not accept this or that position. Editorial Board: Prof. Jemal Gamakharia (Chief editor) Prof. Tamaz Beradze Prof. Teimuraz Gvantseladze Authors: Jemal Gamakharia (Head of the Project), Lia Akhaladze, Malkhaz Baramidze, Salome Bakhia –Okruashvili, Tamaz Beradze, Lia Bitadze, Dazmir Jojua, Merab Gejua, Irakli Gelenava, Teimuraz Gvantseladze, Badri Gogia, Revaz Khvistani, Bezhan Khorava, Guranda Pkhakadze. Translator: Ketevan Chogigidze Reviews: Prof. Otar Zhordania, Prof. Manana Sanadze, Prof. Tariel Phutkaradze Design: On the Cover – Georgian Inscription by Giorgi Basilisdze on the column of the church of Archangles - Mikhael and Gabriel from the village Anukhva of Gu- dauta district of Abkhazia (11th century); on the back cover - Georgian Incription of Luka Martineva from Tsebelda (14th century) ISBN 978-9941-0-3928-7 Introduction Creation of the generalizing work in history of Abkhazia and its publishing in the Eng- lish Language was extremely delayed. The necessity of creation of such a work is con- ditioned by the numerous circumstances. First of all we have to emphasize the fact, that permanent aspiration of the Russian State to tear from Georgia its North-West part has already been the reason of the politization of history of that latter for already more than one century and consequently the brute falsification of the historical past of Abkhazia and together with it of the whole Western Georgia.
    [Show full text]
  • The Circassian Question; the Formation of Linguistic and Cultural Identity in the Caucasus from the Mid-Nineteenth Century to Modern Times
    Uniwersytet Warszawski Wydział Orientalistyczny Studium Europy Wschodniej Hamed Kazemzadeh The Circassian Question; The formation of linguistic and cultural identity in the Caucasus from the mid-nineteenth century to modern times Praca doktorska napisana pod kierunkiem: Dr hab. Mariusz Kowalski Opiekun pomocniczy: Dr David Kolbaia Warszawa, wrzesień 2018 I II Acknowledgments I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Professor Mariusz Kowalski for his unlimited help, support, guidance, and supervision, which gave me the courage and motivation to complete my thesis. His never-ending encouragement and sincere attitude were essential in developing my academic interests. His creative approaches to studying the past and his generosity with his students have made a lasting impression on me. I also thank my academic advisor, Prof. David Kolbaia and director of the Center for East European Studies, Prof. Jan Malicki for their guidance and presence and their valuable comments at the beginning of this dissertation. Through the conceptualization and execution of this project, they were always there to offer their keen analytical insights and to show me how to make my work relevant. To Prof. Piotr Taracha, Dean of Oriental Studies Faculty and Prof. Jolanta Sierakowska-Dyndo, thank you all for your help and intellectual insights at the last phase of the dissertation. I believe that I have been able to achieve my academic goals to this end because of your support and because I have tried to follow the examples, you set. Additionally, I am grateful to Dean’s office especially Ms. Ewa Szczerkowska and Ms. Agnieszka Kulka for their help and kind that they provided.
    [Show full text]
  • Caucasus Journal of Social Sciences
    aucasus Journal C of social sciences Volume 11 2018 Politics and International Relations Education History and Anthropology Humanities Law and Art Public Health and Psychology Business and Economics ISSN 1512-3677 www.ug.edu.ge Caucasus Journal of Social Sciences Volume 11 Issue 1 The University of Georgia Publishing House Tbilisi 2018 UDC(uak) 908 (479) (06) k144 Printed at The University of Georgia. Tbilisi, Georgia. Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved by the University of Georgia. Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage. No responsibility for the views expressed by authors in the Caucasus Journal of Social Sciences is assumed by the editors or the publisher. Caucasus Journal of Social Sciences The University of Georgia. Georgia, Tbilisi, 0175. M. Kostava Street 77, Building IV. Tel: (+995 32) 255 22 22 Email: [email protected] Copyright © 2018 Caucasus Journal of Social Sciences ISSN 1512-3677 Caucasus Journal of Social Sciences Editor-in-Chief Jeremiah Paul Johnson Managing Editor Julieta Andguladze Board of Editors Abuladze Konstantine Tbilisi Teaching University “Gorgasali” Alasania Giuli The University of Georgia Blauvelt Timothy American Councils Carper Mark The University of Alaska Anchorage Davies Janette Oxford University Dzebisashvili Lasha The University of Georgia Ghudushauri Tinatin The University of Georgia Gvelesiani Mariam The University of Georgia
    [Show full text]
  • The Issue of Genealogy of Armenians, Georgians and Other Caucasian Nations in the Historiography of the Middle Ages
    Journal of Literature and Art Studies, February 2017, Vol. 7, No. 2, 207-225 doi: 10.17265/2159-5836/2017.02.009 D DAVID PUBLISHING The Issue of Genealogy of Armenians, Georgians and Other Caucasian Nations in the Historiography of the Middle Ages Manana Sanadze The University of Georgia, Georgia, Tbilisi The paper shows that the story about the origin of Armenians, Georgians and other Caucasians from a common ancestor, namely, from Targamos (Togormah)—The Life of the Fore-Patriarchs and Ancestors of the Georgian Kings, which is represented in the introductory part of The Georgian Chronicles and is dated back to the end of the 11th, is a compiled work that mainly contains, on the one hand, an old Georgian genealogical-geographical story about Tarshish’s son Kartlos (Iber) and his six brothers ( Egros, Movakan, Heros, Bardos, Lekan and Caucas) created at the end of the 6th c.-first half of the 8th c. based on Byzantine works, and on the other hand, a genealogical story created in old Armenian historiography about Targamos and his son Hayk that went through certain steps of development as well. In the process of synthesizing, Togormah (Targamos) and his son Hayk (Haos) were inserted between Tarsish and his son Kartlos (Iber), which violated the Biblical scheme as well as the structure of the sentence in which the insertion was made. The goal of developing the synthesized scheme was to bring evidence of the common origin of Georgians and Armenians, as long as quite a large number of Armenians, because of the incorporation of a large part of Armenian territories within Georgian borders, became citizens of Georgia.
    [Show full text]