THE FIRST INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE ABOUT EVENTS IN THE CAUCASUS

Editorial office in Moscow RF, 103982, Moscow, DIGEST #17 2015 per. Luchnikov 4, entr. 3, room 1. Tel. (495) 621-04-24 30 Tel./fax (495) 625-06-63 E-mail: [email protected]

Editor in chief 2 "HE GOT WHAT HE DESERVED" Israpil SHOVKHALOV E-mail: [email protected]

Executive Editor Abdulla DUDUEV 4 E-mail: [email protected] A TERRITORY OF LIMITED Department Offices LEGAL FORCE AND EFFECT HISTORY/HUMAN RIGHTS/SOCIETY/CULTURE Maria KATYSHEVA, Zoya SVETOVA, Lidiya MIKHALCHENKO, Inna BUTORINA, Yelena SANNIKOVA 8 OCTOBER 13th Correspondents Taus SERGANOVA (Chechnya) Marem YALKHAROEVA (Ingushetia) Mussa MEISIGOV (Ingushetia) Aida GADZHIEVA (Dagestan) 12 THE PARTICULARITIES Ali MAGOMEDOV (Dagestan) Nadezhda BOTASHEVA Over the past decade, the demo- (Karachayevo-Cherkessia) OF AN ETHNIC SENTENCE Assistant Editor graphic problem has become a Georgiy ZINGER Literary editor of Russian texts 16 Irina VASUTCHENKO HE HOPED FOR AN EARLY RELEASE NEVER major topic of discussion through- English translation by SUSPECTING IT WOULD COME IN DEATH Boris SMIRNOV out the nation. Top government Design and layout Dmitry YAKOVLEV officials and famous politicians This publication has been published since 24 WHY ARE CAUCASIANS TRAVELING 2003 and is registered with the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information TO JOIN THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR? include this problem in their politi- Technologies and Mass Communications (Roskomnadzor). The certificate of re-registration is: PI No. FS77-46140, cal platforms, discussing it on dated August 11, 2011. Founders and publishers: 28 IN ILES TATIEV, INGUSHETIA GETS ITS Members of the Russian human numerous talk shows. The popula- rights research center: FIRST POLITICAL PRISONER Civil Society and Freedom of Speech Initiative Center for the Caucasus; tion of the Russian Federation is The non-profit organization Right to Life and Civil Dignity The opinions expressed by authors 30 A HIGH BIRTHRATE, aging. Government measures for in articles and interviews are not necessarily those of the editorial board A HIGH MORTALITY RATE or of the publisher. increasing the birthrate are not All rights to articles published in this issue belong to the editorial board. Reprint without permission of the editorial board is forbidden. having a significant effect — in When using or quoting articles, 34 reference to "DOSH" is obligatory. AS LONG AS PEOPLE TURN TO US FOR

The magazine is distributed HELP, WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING many regions of the country, popu- in Russia, Georgia Azerbaijan, Armenia, Lithuania, IN CHECHNYA Norway, Germany lation growth remains very low. Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Great Britain Circulation of the Russian edition - 10.000; English edition - 1.000. "This magazine is published with support from the Human Rights House Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and the National Endowment for Democracy" WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION

Not a single concrete fact, date or name crossed the investigator's lips. Yet, of course, Mr. Khashagulgov's detainment was extended from hearing the bombing nonsense was eventually to hearing. And no one was in the slightest bit interested in such insignifi- LAYLA IBRAGIMOVA dropped from the case, but Isa was by cant details as the utter absence of any grounds for detaining then already in the clutches of the Mr. Khashagulgov under guard. The only problem was that "HE GOT WHAT Center for Countering Extremism. Mrs. Khashagulgov invited some reporters to one of the hearings. He is still there, in a Vladikavkaz remand prison. There has been no trial other words, but it's too easy to just Not a single concrete fact, date or HE DESERVED" and his detention has been extended put her in prison — let the woman name crossed the investigator's lips. for another six months. find peace and tranquility on her own. Yet, of course, Mr. Khashagulgov's detainment was extended from hear- Such is the value placed on working The same day that Mrs. Khashagulgov's ing to hearing. And no one was in the A murdered member of the opposition with Yevkurov's team. house was being searched — and, by slightest bit interested in such insignif- the way, it is still unclear what the sub- icant details as the utter absence of any has been declared a militant Meanwhile, Isa Khashagulgov's wife, ject of the search was, as the report has grounds for detaining Mr. Pyatimat, publicized information never been released — security person- Khashagulgov under guard. The only showing that the debts had been nel also arrested another one of Mr. problem was that Mrs. Khashagulgov incurred for the head of the republic, Khashagulgov's brothers, the business- invited some reporters to one of the Habitually scanning the headlines in trator of many of the tragedies that along with all the relevant figures, man Yakub. The charges had it all — hearings. the Caucasian newsfeed, I stopped on have taken place in the republic. "I won't be imprisoned; I will be killed." dates and names. She also decided to weapons, connections... According to the following: February 13, 2013 — However, let us look several years into publish an interview of hers on the relatives, he was beaten and injected And then, Mr. Fityukov's gibberish "FSB confirms liquidation of militant the past, to 2008. Internet. Three days later she called us: with something. became public knowledge. in Nazran." And all of a sudden it turns out he was "Take the video down! I am receiving That very evening, I discovered that The populace was simmering with dis- a terrorist! Right under Yevkurov's threats and fear for my children's lives." Along the way, his car was impounded. The press was not allowed to attend this "militant" was none other than content. Ingushetia had been plunged nose, as it were. How is it, Mr. However, if you think that this is the Later, it was used to surveil Sultan- the subsequent session and Mr. Sultan-Girey Khashagulgov! The same into the economic abyss during the Yevkurov, that you didn't notice this extent of what awaits an individual Girey Khashagulgov — all the way Khashagulgov was whisked from the tall and gaunt Mr. Khashagulgov who term of the outgoing president, Murat earlier? who has worked effectively for the until his murder. Moscow public's eye to Vladikavkaz. was an Ingush construction entrepre- Zyazikov. Working as an activist, Mr. government of Ingushetia, you would neur and former deputy minister of Khashagulgov tried to represent the Back then though, the construction be sadly mistaken. Isa Khashagulgov's car suffered the In an interview, Mr. Yevkurov claims the republic's Ministry of Construction interests of both business and everyday minister's career had a worse ending same fate two-and-a-half years earlier. that Sultan-Girey Khashagulgov "got and who, after leaving his post, citizens, rallying people to take to the than that of his deputy. Mr. Having been left to fend for herself During his arrest, his car was confiscat- what he deserved." However, he is not became a high-profile member of the streets. Khashagulgov was asked to retire, and her children without any financial ed supposedly for "further investiga- currently — nor ever has been — opposition. I remember taking tea while the minister he was deputizing or physical support, Pyatimat is to this tion." Afterward, unknown but clearly under investigation, nor have any with his family in his beautiful, wel- In 2009, not long after Mr. Yevkurov for was shot — in his own office — by day considering whether she should security-affiliated people would be charges ever been filed against him. coming house during yet another one was appointed head of the republic, terrorists. (Who else?) Of course, later allow them to go to school or not. seen driving it all around Ingushetia, Mr. Yevkurov knows this, which begs of my visits to the region. Mr. Khashagulgov was invited to work on, ominous rumors began circulating Their house is under constant surveil- utterly out in the open and without the questions of how he would know with the republican government. that the Ministry, or rather its adminis- lance; detectives in black cars shadow even having changed the license whether Mr. Khashagulgov "got what The Caucasus is the kind of place where He agreed and was appointed Deputy tration, had borrowed millions from her children. Furthermore, the house plates. he deserved" or not? one must always be prepared to discov- Minister of Construction. some wealthy individuals. And these was subject to "an extreme ransack- er that any somewhat famous person — were not millions of roubles. Nor were ing." It is impossible to extract any com- Mr. Khashagulgov himself did a fine or really any person at all — may be tor- During his supervision of construction they borrowed for the administration: ment on Isa Khashagulgov's case from job of partially explaining the situation tured, shot, abducted, killed and then projects, contractors would trust him but for Mr. Yevkurov himself. Arkady Avdeyev — special investigator the investigators. During the first days when, the day before his death, he told posthumously declared to be whatever even when they were owed back pay. for the Department of Internal Affairs following Mr. Khashagulgov's detain- French radio that "I won't be impris- the authorities wish him to be. An energetic and effective manager, This affair turned out to be a terrible and a lieutenant colonel of justice ment, when he was being taken to oned; I will be killed." Mr. Khashagulgov knew how to over- tragedy for Mr. Khashagulgov's large under the Main Investigations court in Moscow in order to extend his He knew this and made no attempt to When it comes to Mr. Khashagulgov's, come difficult situations. and well-respected family. Directorate of the Russian detainment, Special Investigator hide. Perhaps he simply got tired of this is no hyperbole. Investigative Committee — com- Fityukov would babble various non- pointlessly struggling in the topsy- Mr. Khashagulgov spent nearly two First came the loss of work and busi- plained that the annoying Mrs. sense in court about how Mr. turvy world of the present-day Following his death, which supposedly years occupying a senior post in ness. Then, Mr. Khashagulgov's brother Khashagulgov was submitting too Khashagulgov was implicated in terror Caucasus, where one must pay for happened as he was "resisting arrest," Yevkurov's administration. He per- Isa was suddenly accused of having many complaints concerning her hus- acts, how he had been equipped by the one's right to live with humiliation and Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the head of formed duties which required high plotted the Vladikavkaz market bomb- band's case and the property that had insurgency and how he was involved where everyone, including the popu- Ingushetia, described the deceased as a responsibility and took part in vitally ing and was declared to be Dokka been confiscated supposedly "for fur- in certain ongoing cases, as well as god lace, is simply waiting patiently for the bandit, terrorist, villain and the perpe- important projects. Umarov's right-hand man. To be fair, ther investigation." He is tired of her, in knows what else. situation to improve.

2 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 3 WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION

tants is a favorite tactic of the security "Son of a bitch! forces, who know that the people or This is the wrong house..." ABDULLA DUDUEV relatives whom they accuse — who are either being tortured or dead — A TERRITORY are unable to prove the opposite. The Around five o'clock on the morning Head of Ingushetia happily employs of April 8, one of the streets in the this same tactic, besmirching an small Ingush village of Dolakovo was OF LIMITED LEGAL FORCE abducted, perhaps already dead per- occupied by a detachment of soldiers son without providing a shred of evi- armed to the teeth and their armored dence. personnel carriers. It was as if the AND EFFECT street was some unassailable strategic At the same time, Mr. Yevkurov culti- objective whose capture required a vates an aura of the elder statesman, full-blown assault. Khavazh Ozdoev often meeting with various human was shot in the Having killed Mr. Mankiev and Mr. Mestoev, rights and social activists for an Khavazh Ozdoev, 31 years old, always back the soldiers blew up the house earnest chat over tea. Afterward, they left his house at 35 ul. claim that he is doing everything he Kombileyevskaya to go to work when can but simply lacks the necessary it was still dark out. He tended the powers, as the security agencies are boiler at the local school and had to ultimately subordinate to the federal start the fire early so that there would center and not him, a humble leader of be heat by the time classes began. the republic. On this ill-fated day, he had barely What can one say to that? The story is left his courtyard and closed the gate both advantageous and credible. And behind himself when a machine gun yet, Mr. Yevkurov himself — the for- opened fire. Mr. Ozdoev was hit in mer GRU general and hero of the back and killed on the spot. His Prishtina and Chechnya — brushes younger brother, Adam Ozdoev, away such a state of affairs. rushed out of the house and, seeing Accordingly, when asked in an April the soldiers and Khavazh lying on the 24 interview with Gazeta.Ru, "Do you ground dead, turned and ran from have the requisite authority to effec- the gate. As he did so, he spotted his tively control the MVD and FSB in cousin, Artur Pliev, who had gotten Ingushetia?" Mr. Yevkurov responded, up for his morning prayer, but hear- "When I say that these law enforce- ing noise, had rushed to his relatives' ment agencies are not subordinate to house. me, that does not mean that they act in the republic without either notify- Adam yelled to Artur to get away ing the authorities or getting their from the gates and run for the veg- The following stereotype has less law-abiding than in other parts of republics of the North Caucasus have permission. First of all, we oversee all etable garden. At that moment a shot entrenched itself into the mind of the country, but because, first of all, become everyday occurrences; this is special operations. Secondly, I knew rang out. Adam fell wounded but Russian society: The North Caucasus is those who are tasked with enforcing further compounded by the investiga- ahead of time about this special oper- managed to stumble to his feet and a special place where Russian law does the law are the same ones who violate tive agencies willfully overlooking the ation [of April 4 in Dolakovo, which is run on. More shots followed and not apply — sometimes in part and it in the most glaring ways. Of course, unlawful actions of federal and local further discussed below — Ed.]. I did Artur fell dead. sometimes in full. This is to some this is not exclusively a Caucasian police. not know the address but I knew that degree an accurate assessment, but problem, but here people suffer from it was to be in Dolakovo. I knew Zareta Ozdoeva witnessed the shoot- those who espouse this belief occa- the lawlessness much more than in We are often forced to write about so- whom the agents would be looking ing of her brother and cousin. She sionally seem to be unaware of the other regions of Russia. called "special operations," during for and even that they didn't find one explains that she ran to the gates true causes for this state of affairs. which innocent people are forcibly of the suspects. What's more is that I despite the soldiers' shouts and curses Starting from the First Chechen War, disappeared or murdered. was briefed about the operation's demanding that she stayed back. In the Caucasus, legal norms are not the transgressions committed by the beginning and conclusion, since I am Perhaps due to shock, the young flouted because the people here are federal forces deployed in the Accusing their victims of being mili- the one in charge here." woman did not heed them. Having

4 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 5 WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION

run up to the gates, she opened them walked through all the rooms. When not walk around without un-assisted. assistance in finding her youngest And so, everything has worked out in times, even their applications are not and asked, "Who are you and what are we approached the garage, one of the Twenty years ago, she was forced to son, who had been abducted while a painfully predictable manner: The accepted. Later, they turn to human you doing?" Instead of answering, one soldiers made a horrible face, began flee the Prigorodny District of North still wounded. She believed in this accounts of the soldiers who com- rights organizations and independ- of the soldiers pointed at the dead swearing and said into his walkie- Ossetia during the Ossetian-Ingush slim possibility even despite her bit- mitted bloodshed and robbery are ent media. The former help them fill man and asked, "Is this Mestoev?" talkie, 'Son of a bitch! This is the Conflict, abandoning everything she ter hurt — after all, the Head of the not subject to doubt, even if they, out their complaints properly and wrong house! We needed the second had built over many years in order to Republic had not found it necessary having shot an unarmed man, then file them with all the relevant "No, this is my brother Khavazh house from the left corner of the save her children. She raised them on to even issue an apology for the photographed his body with a hand- authorities. The latter document and Ozdoev," replied Ms. Ozdoeva. Then, block. This is the second house from her own. She had been widowed wrongful murder of her son and gun on his stomach, and two to three publicize the incidents in question, according to her, the soldier said that the right corner.'" when the children were still young. nephew. Such are the errors commit- weeks later the handgun in question but in the vast majority of cases, Khavazh had fired at him with an And when she had finally raised them ted by the republican security agen- (which had appeared out of none of this leads to justice for the assault rifle. The woman demanded Ms. Ozdoeva and her ailing mother (the sons were planning on starting cies entrusted to him — errors for nowhere among the possessions of victims. that the soldiers look at her brother: were escorted from the premises and families), she lost both — along with which people have paid with their this peaceful person), suddenly and "He didn't have any weapons. He was not allowed to return home until a nephew — in the span of one hour. lives. likewise magically transforms into an The missing persons' relatives are the lying supine with his arms stretched four in the afternoon. During that assault rifle. ones who carry on the search (and upward, which confirms that they had entire time, the uninvited guests did Artur Pliev, the murdered nephew of On April 18, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the forced disappearances are as a shot him in his back. Further proof as they pleased inside, pilfering any- Mrs. Ozdoeva, was from Plievo. Just the head of Ingushetia, received Mrs. Unfortunately, Mr. Yevkurov does not rule performed by the soldiers). was that the gunshot wounds were in thing of value. Let us recapitulate: two weeks earlier, he had been Ozdoeva. According to Zareta have the time to look into such dubi- Meanwhile, the soldiers who without his back and leg. The head wound was Having mistakenly shot two wholly appointed as head accountant at the Ozdoeva, Mr. Yevkurov suggested ous miracles. In the above men- due process or investigation — or, a final finishing shot to the head, innocent people, the soldiers did not same school where his cousins Adam that the unfortunate mother bring to tioned interview with Gazeta.Ru, he for that matter evidence — have around his left ear. Altogether, the sol- dare to enter their victims' residence and Khavazh worked. He had been him her disappeared youngest son, confidently described the Ozdoevs as killed the people they suspect to be diers fired no more than twenty shots and only did so once they could hide staying at his aunt's house and look- Adam, whom supposedly she had "the associates of militants" and associated with the insurgency (who in our yard," Ms. Ozdoeva recounts. behind a young woman; then, having ing for a family-sized apartment clos- concealed somewhere. The all-pow- claimed that these were "armed per- most frequently have simply been ascertained that there was no threat er to his new job. erful official graciously promised sons." Just as in the case of Akhmed designated as such) go on being pro- According to Ms. Ozdoeva, when she to them, they instantly began to loot (many thanks unto him) to rehabili- Buzurtanov, the Head of the Republic moted in their respective branches wanted to flip her brother's body to the place. Let us likewise emphasize "My kids grew before my eyes. I tate Adam if she did so. Also present again claimed that the dead men of service without a shred of show the soldiers that he was that they did so without the least always kept them in my sight. All our at the meeting between the Head of were subject to "fieldwork which accountability. And the fates of the unarmed, the soldiers forbade her compunction that the house in ques- neighbors, relatives and friends knew Ingushetia and Mrs. Ozdoeva was the included surveillance of their con- murdered innocents become a statis- from approaching. And later, accord- tion was not even the one they were what they did. They all saw them go soldier in charge of the special oper- versations." He went on to lament tical resource, which the soldiers and ing to the victim's sister, the murder- sent to raid. to work and come back home," ation in Dolakovo, Federal Security that "typically, no one believes us the regional authorities use to prove ers dragged his body away. In the recalls Mrs. Ozdoeva, wiping away Service Directorate for the Republic when we say that these people were their success in the "war against ter- subsequent days, a video was The Ozdoevs claim that the soldiers tears which seem to flow on their of Ingushetia agent Pavel Chernov. planning an act of terror." ror" to the federal center, which, in uploaded to the Internet which with whom they interacted were own from her pain-filled eyes. turn, only helps justify a bigger budg- showed Khavazh Ozdoev lying in an drunk — that is, they reeked of alco- In response to Mr. Yevkurov's request Moreover, Mr. Yevkurov reiterates the et for this war. entirely different position, next to a hol. Mrs. Ozdoeva does not know to that he report the circumstances of same story that caused Mrs. Ozdoeva silenced handgun. whom she must turn for justice. In the event, Mr. Chernov claimed that to completely lose any hope: "One of Meanwhile, their victims are left Some time later, witnesses told the complete despair, she kept saying the soldiers had been forced to kill the brothers [Adam, the wounded alone with their sorrow. Some of Having committed two murders, the Ozdoevs that the younger brother, that she has nothing left to do but go Khavzh Ozdoev because he had man who was later taken by the sol- them wait and hope that justice will soldiers decided to blow up the Adam (by the way, he too worked at to Moscow — to the Primate of the opened fire at the federal forces with diers from the hospital — Ed.] fled. come. Others choose the path of Ozdoevs' house. However, Ms. the Dolakov school, as an IT teacher), Russian Orthodox Church, the an assault rifle. Hearing this, the His relatives know where he is but long and exhausting drudgery, using Ozdoeva disrupted their plans. She who had been wounded and taken to Patriarch Kirill, and ask for his help. mother could no longer contain her- claim that he was abducted." all available legal remedies, all the talked them into searching the house the Nazran Central Clinical Hospital Perhaps, his intercession will help self and exclaimed, "Why are you way up to the European Court of to ascertain that there was nothing by two security agents, was removed end this unlawfulness? Mrs. Ozdoeva lying? Have you no shame?" At this The events taking place in the region Human Rights. And yet another dangerous inside. The soldiers were from there by the very same soldiers, no longer believes that either the fed- point, according to the relatives, resemble a maleficent and closed group, having lost faith in the idea afraid to enter the house and agreed after his wounds had been dressed. eral or regional authorities will do it. Yevkurov ordered Mrs. Ozdoeva to be loop — along its interminable course that the rule of law in this country only under the condition that the girl They took him despite the fact that Nevertheless, during our subsequent removed from his office. walk the people who have suffered may be attained through legal means, would walk ahead of them, basically he was wounded, half-conscious and conversation, it seemed to me that in from the authorities' abuses of take up arms — which, it seems, is as a human shield. calling for his dead brother delirious- her heart of hearts, this devastated Zareta Ozdoev said that her mother power. the most appealing thing to those for ly. Since then, his relatives have been woman still harbored a slight hope returned from this meeting utterly The first thing they do when their whom the propagation of war has "One of them kept radioing someone unable to ascertain where Adam was that a meeting with Yunus-Bek broken. Her health, which had relatives are abducted or killed with- become a quick way to make their and reporting that everything was taken or his present whereabouts. Yevkurov could bring some kind of already been frail, became worse and out due process is appeal to the law career and amass material wealth. clear," Ms. Ozdoeva explains. "We Aishat Ozdoeva is disabled. She can- relief. I think she was counting on his now raises grave concerns. enforcement agencies where, at

6 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 7 THE LEGAL PROCESS THE LEGAL PROCESS

A dead militant and Spetsnaz soldiers dead and eyeless. That's what an inter- TIMUR KUASHEV rogation at the DCOC entailed." As a result, it was not surprising that most of the defendants retracted their earlier statements at trial. What else could they do? Pay for their false self- incriminations, obtained through tor- October 13th ture, with years of their lives? Let their October 13th statements, obtained in the same man- ner, stand and thereby destroy other, perhaps entirely innocent, people?

The day that divided life in Kabardino- The public of Kabardino-Balkaria gen- had gone, as so often happens, because caliphate, emirate and imamate." At erally agrees that the October 13 raid their friends had invited them. the time of the assault, Mr. Tukhuzhev was an assault against everyone Balkaria into "before" and "after" was 18. His case is in no way the regardless of affiliation. Many families One of the defendants, Anzor exception. It is completely evident that suffered and much property was dam- Nalchik after the clashes Mashukov, detailed the causes for the the majority of the assailants lacked aged. It was a blow against the every- chaos in a series of articles titled "Who any concrete purpose or goal. What is day, peaceful order of life in this beau- On October 13—14, 2005, Nalchik, the created the insurgency in the KBR?" In there to talk about if they didn't even tiful resort city. Let us recall that before capital of the once-peaceful the articles he described the oppres- have a plan of retreat? that fateful day, Kabardino-Balkaria Kabardino-Balkaria Republic, became sion of Muslims and the direct perse- was an island of stability in the North a battleground. It began to smell of war. cution of those citizens of the republic The case consists of thousands of vol- Caucasus — even as conflicts tore the who were of the Islamic faith: unlawful umes. The body of evidence for the neighboring republics asunder. The The KBR security forces were suddenly detainment, warrantless searches, tor- indictment was gathered during a pre- Second Chechen War had just ended, attacked by militants. According to offi- tures and beatings, humiliations, the liminary investigation. It consists while the inhabitants of Dagestan and cial data, 35 law enforcement agents shuttering of mosques and so on. mostly of interrogation reports in Ingushetia were already becoming and soldiers, 14 civilians and 92 mili- These facts are attested to by a number which the defendants admit their guilt accustomed to firefights and counter- tants were killed. Another 129 law of witnesses as well as complaints offi- and indicate accomplices. terrorist measures. enforcement agents and 66 civilians cially filed by the victims. were wounded. What really happened With that said, all of the defendants At any rate, the nature of this stability there? Perhaps, we will never learn the For their part, the law enforcement have claimed that they were subject- requires its own examination. After all, whole truth behind those tragic events... agencies, keep coyly quiet about all of ed to torture, which fact is con- the signs of this dramatic conflict had this — while simultaneously claiming firmed by photographs showing signs been forming under the previous that extremist ideas had spread among of beatings, as well as by medical administration. And finally "Sleeping On the morning of October 13, group of 58 suspects accused of somehow end up there, how is it pos- the Muslim youth of Kabardino- examinations. However, not a single Beauty" awoke and did so to great I was in Moscow. I was enrolled in a attacking the city's security forces. Still, sible to take the investigators' work Balkaria and that the adherents of rad- such claim has resulted in a criminal effect. In such a situation, it is the fulltime course. Dozens of witnesses there were others less fortunate than seriously? ical Islam had been growing in num- investigation. The Nalchik City Court general public of the KBR that can corroborate my alibi. I was inter- me. ber and calling for the violent over- and its prosecution service deny any should assess the events in ques- ested in my studies back then — not What should one believe after some- throw of the country's constitutional crime took place and, to put it bluntly, tion, their causes and conse- politics or religion. I did not pray or For example, defendant Khasanbi thing like this happens? What should order. refuse to see any evidence of it. quences. In the end, only the pub- go to the mosque. When I found out Khupsergenov had been in class at his one not believe? Among the accused, lic of the KBR should pass judg- about what had happened, I called university in Pyatigorsk — a fact con- four confessed to their active partici- Here, the words of defendant Islam Returning to the words of the afore- ment on the defendants. This is not my relatives and acquaintances in firmed by all of his classmates. pation in the raid. One confessed to Tukhuzhev seem apposite. At his trial, mentioned Anzor Mashukov, at his only the conviction of the present arti- Nalchik using my phone in Moscow. Defendant Muradin Kardanov was killing a police officer. Most of the the young man responded as follows trial he said the following: "I was cle's author — this is the perspective of My phone bill could probably prove working as a freight handler in the assailants claim that, though they were to State Prosecutor Shamtov's question detained for half a year. Half my health the law as well. this too. Central Market, where dozens of wit- armed, they did not do anything and about why he was headed toward the was taken from me. Meanwhile, Murat nesses saw him at the time of the that, as soon as the situation began to republic's MVD building on the morn- Takmakov was delivered to the And yet, somehow, the jury selection But even these simple facts could not attack. So what were these obviously- get serious, they dropped their ing of October 13: "Sure, I had decided Directorate for Combating Organized process dragged on, while the State prevent a series of circumstances that uninvolved people doing on the weapons and fled. Many of them were to take over the MVD building with Crime with a wounded shoulder. Later, Duma ratified amendments to the ended with my finding myself among a defendants' bench? And since they did there for the sake of company. They one grenade and then declare it a he was discovered outside of the city, Criminal Procedure Code according to

8 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 9 THE LEGAL PROCESS THE LEGAL PROCESS

which those accused of being associat- them and instead name those who dis- process. Either way, their demands fell ed with terrorism could not be tried by play effort and principles in their on deaf ears. a jury. But we all know that a law can- advocacy for their defendants' inter- not have retroactive force or effect! At ests. There are quite a few: Magomed It is therefore not difficult to imagine the time of the crime, the old law was Abubakarov, Oleg Kelemetov, Batyr the kind of pressure the defen- in effect. In response to this, the Akhilgov, Magomed Gagiev, Marina dants find themselves under. authorities produced a legal opinion Akhmetova, Tatiana Psomiadi, Kazbek Nevertheless, besides the defendants, penned by the Kabardino-Balkarian Datteyev, Madina Dyshekova, Luisa the authorities are likewise exerting Institute for Humanitarian Studies Shorova, Lyudmila Kochesokova, pressure on their family members. The mothers of the defendants according to which it was impossible Farida Tuganova, Murat Ozrokov, Their houses are constantly being sub- for a jury to objectively examine the Zalim Dzahashtov. jected to warrantless searches, they are evidence in the case, this was the one The newly-erected building where the trial is being held, built on the premises of the Nalchik remand prison case in question, as in such a small under surveillance and their phones that could not be found. And finally, Caucasian republic, everyone either I won't name the lawyers who prefer are unlawfully tapped. Many of the the most incontestable argument for knew each other or was related. to keep to the shadows, unwilling to defendants have infant children and the groundlessness of the indictments: Perhaps then it makes sense to sus- spoil their relations with the judges, elderly parents: What law provides for Since the prosecution did not present pend trials by jury entirely in the prosecutors and detectives — if any- their lives to be ruined? any material evidence, specifically the Caucasus, so that these savages and thing, because I remember them very weapon that, according to the investi- abreks don't acquit one another? poorly. Zalina Gabibullaeva, the common-law gation, was used to commit the crime, wife of Rasul Kudaev, was detained at the court denied the motion to exam- Why not? After all, the foundation has I cannot pass over the fact that even the border of the Republic of North ine material evidence during the trial already been laid. We have already though the health of some of the Ossetia-Alania and Ingushetia. A mock at all. been stripped of our right to elect the prisoners is in a critical state, they explosive device was discovered on heads of the North Caucasian Federal receive no medical aid. On the other her person. She was on her way to the And so the trial of the century is near- District — obviously a special jurisdic- hand, perhaps this is for the best if we Nalchik remand prison in order to reg- ing its conclusion. Soon everything will tion. In this manner, the Supreme take into account that the director of ister her marriage with Mr. Kudaev. be resolved. The republic remains jit- Court of the KBR decided that since it the remand prison's medical unit is a The mother of four children and Zaira tery to this day. The repercussions of was difficult to assemble a jury and forensic pathologist! I'm not kidding Akkaeva, who was traveling with her, those dramatic events still animate the since a new law had just been passed, — what is there to joke about here if, were sentenced to two years in prison. general public. On May 3, a protest certain considerations could be cast for example, Zaur Tokhov required We would ask, for what? rally was held in Nalchik against the aside — even though these certain spine surgery. Following a multitude of rights violations of citizens and the considerations were legal procedure as motions and walkouts on the part of The defendants also claim that various abuses of power by law enforcement established by the older law which had the lawyers (several defenders left the troubles plague whoever helps their officers. I request that this article be never been revoked. For reference, it courtroom in silence, for which they families. There are two cases in partic- evaluated as a resolution proceeding doesn't hurt to mention that the noto- were held in contempt), Mr. Tokhov ular that took place at different times: from that rally and addressed to the rious legal opinion turned out to be an received his operation at the remand the murder of Ilyas Tramov, a resident federal and republican authorities. outright forgery: The Institute's prison a year ago. But any such surgery of Nalchik, and the disappearance of employee denied his authorship of the requires a rehabilitative period and Alim Kaitaev. However, this article's real addressees document. this basic right of every patient was are the residents of Kabardino- denied him. The last tragedy, which I cannot fail to Balkaria, those who care about the The defense appealed to the mention, is the murder of the journal- present and the future of their native Constitutional Court of the RF to In March 2013, defendants Zaur ist Tamerlan Kazikhanov, during the province, those who insist on their resolve this issue. The Court confirmed Tokhov and Zaur Sokmyshev went on attack on Center T. Many have already right to participate in what is happen- that the case had to be examined a hunger strike for over a week, in an seen that shocking, bone-chilling ing to us. While the trial is underway, under the law in effect at the time of attempt to attain qualified medical video. However, during the judicial there is still a chance to find out what the crime. But here, the rebellious It does not hurt to mention that any- observe an admirable solidarity care. Mr. Sokmyshev went so far as to investigation, the bullet which killed happened — and more importantly republican court revealed its true high- one willing can go to the trial and see between the chief justice and the chief cut his own stomach. The defendants Mr. Kazikhanov mysteriously vanished why it happened. Without having lander nature: Insisting on its previous for herself that the proceedings are prosecutor. were even compelled to boycott the from the evidence repository. The bul- done so, it is impossible to solve the decision, it wholly ignored the entirely prejudiced. Any motion by court session, as a result of which they let could have helped identify whether security problem that has so forcefully Constitutional Court's decision and by the defense that could influence the The work of some of the defense were removed from the courtroom it had been fired by the militants or the come to the fore, overwhelming all extension the Constitution of the outcome of the trial in the slightest is lawyers likewise leaves something to until the closing of oral arguments, security forces, but after the defen- previous ethnic and territorial differ- Russian Federation. A courageous posi- overruled. Exceptions to this are be desired. But I will focus on the which basically constitutes an dants' motions to identify it, the ences. What is the point of land, after tion! extremely rare; however, one may other side of the coin: I won't mention infringement on their rights to due response was that, of all the material all, if there is no one to live on it?

10 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 11 FATE FATE

Vladimir Putin became the doom which precludes us from formulating of Aslan Cherkesov IRENA PODOLSKAYA statistics on this issue." There are no such statistics on the THE PARTICULARITIES Internet either, though it bristles with titles which quite adequately reflect Russian attitudes toward Caucasians (I OF AN ETHNIC SENTENCE can neither utter nor write that vile and ignoble "definition" of "Transcaucasian national"). Here are a few: "Group of Transcaucasian nation- Mr. Putin could have just as easily als starts a shoot-out," "Caucasians are Aslan Cherkesov informs Vladimir Putin in writing that he is uttered a single command: "Bite!" exterminating the Russian people," "Fifteen Caucasians start a shoot-out in renouncing his Russian citizenship This took place after the unforgettable a Moscow cafe," "Caucasians on ram- Manezhnaya Square riot on December page in Moscow," etc. 11, 2010, when passions were reaching their boiling point. No less interesting is another aspect of I don't doubt that such data exist, but the "forced cohabitation" problem: To be fair, I should point out that the I would guess they are classified. On How many natives of the Caucasus A year and a half have passed since "anti-Caucasian" attitude is an ever- March 17, 2011, Rashid Nurgaliyev, have perished at the hands of the Aslan Cherkesov was sentenced (on present undercurrent in Moscow, unit- then Interior Minister of Russia, was Russians? And what kind of sentences October 28, 2011), yet his relatives and ing amongst themselves both "the dar- asked three questions: did the culprits receive? I would also those few who consider the verdict ling Muscovites" and the natives of the ask another question: Has any state unjust and unusually cruel continue North Caucasus, "the guests of the cap- 1. How many murders or other severe representative — however insignifi- trying to alleviate the young man's fate. ital" as well as its toilers. We are indebt- crimes have been committed in cant (and without flowers of course) DOSH magazine numbers itself among ed to the wise ethnic policies of our Moscow by people from the North ever once visited the grave of a mur- these, regularly featuring articles about government for this state of affairs, Caucasian republics (including by dered Caucasian? But, I suppose, this Mr. Cherkesov and still trying to which has remained unaltered for the those who were permanent residents last question is too purposefully answer the question of how Article last few decades. in the capital) during 2009-2010? absurd. 108 of the Russian Criminal Code "Murder as a result of excessive force In addition to the above, Mr. Putin 2. What percentage of total murders Really, Prime Minister Putin had no during self-defense" suddenly turned committed another "benevolent" act: and other severe crimes committed in need to trouble himself. Everything into Article 105 "Murder in the first He declared publicly that Aslan Moscow do these crimes comprise? would have worked out the way he degree." The stipulated punishment Cherkesov had been tried twice wanted even without his having to under the latter article is 6-15 years' Do you recall the function of fate in kind that we read about almost daily, before and that he abused drugs. 3. How many representatives of the point the finger. imprisonment. Mr. Cherkesov was ancient Greek tragedy? Fate is that into a tragedy. Such are the laws of No doubt, one of his aides had North Caucasian republics (including charged under several articles of the which one cannot avoid: that which genre. slipped him information about those who were permanent residents Putin could not have overlooked the Russian Criminal Code, including rob- befalls a person suddenly, striking him another Aslan from Kabardino- in the capital) have been killed or fact that any opinions or claims bery (Section 1, Article 161) — i.e., his like a lightning bolt. Everything that On December 21, 2010, then Prime Balkaria — there being no fewer assaulted in Moscow during 2009- uttered by the leader of the nation "theft" of a purse which he had never follows is predetermined by fate. The Minister Putin met the friends of the Aslans there than there are Ivans in 2010? would be received in his hierarchy as seen until the investigation and which person is doomed. But that is not all: murdered soccer fan, Egor Sviridov, Moscow. But this disinformation was direct edicts and would thus offer had none of his fingerprints on it. For He also brings misfortune to his rela- traveled with them to his grave and, well-met despite this fact, forcing Nurgaliyev's response was as follows: unlimited opportunity for the expres- all the charges combined, he received tives and loved ones. Like a leper, he placing an enormous bouquet of red Aslan's relatives to work as hard as sion of jingoistic sentiments by all 20 years. becomes the source of physical and roses upon it, pointedly said, "We must they could to dispel it. "We report that the collection of branches of power, including the judi- psychological torments. ensure that such a thing never happens statistical data that you are inter- ciary. I already wrote about Mr. Cherkesov again!" In our country, where officials Statistics — a digression ested in is not provided for by (DOSH #4-2012) and expressed my As soon as he appeared onstage, Mr. greedily catch every word falling from into popular science state-level or agency-level report- Judge for yourselves. In an interview conviction that the guarantor of the Putin became Aslan Cherkesov's doom, the leader's lips in fear of missing his ing norms. Moreover, the concept with MK (April 5, 2012), Aslan Russian Constitution played a fateful and he went on to play his part so symbolic meaning, this phrase was of 'representative of the North Cherkesov recounted the following: role in the fates of this young man and convincingly that he managed to interpreted as a sign from on high — I couldn't find any statistical data Caucasian republics' has no legal his relatives. transform a run-of-the-mill brawl, the as a divine hand, pointing. about Caucasians killed in Moscow. definition in current Russian law, "I acted lawfully. I did not break the

12 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 13 FATE FATE

law... After all, there was footage from On December 21, 2010, then Prime Minister Putin met the friends of the on the region) it can be up to 20," Putin could not have overlooked the fact that any opinions or claims the surveillance cameras installed murdered soccer fan, Egor Sviridov, traveled with them to his grave and, explained V. Lukin (Rossiyskaya uttered by the leader of the nation would be received in his hierarchy as along Kronshtadt Boulevard. I submit- placing an enormous bouquet of red roses upon it, pointedly said, "We Gazeta, November 11, 2004). direct edicts and would thus offer unlimited opportunity for the expression ted a motion to present them at trial. must ensure that such a thing never happens again!" In our country, of jingoistic sentiments by all branches of power, including the judiciary. The court sustained my motion. But where officials greedily catch every word falling from the leader's lips in But even this hope did not pan out. the footage was not shown at trial. fear of missing his symbolic meaning, this phrase was interpreted as a The jury rendered a guilty verdict. Detective Ostapyuk told me directly at sign from on high — as a divine hand, pointing. the detective's office in Matrosskaya Mr. Cherkesov was sent far away, to Krasnoyarsk any nearer to Moscow or No doubt the discerning reader has Tishina Prison, 'If the footage is shown, Krasnoyarsk Krai: 3,500 km from Nalchik. already figured out that, after all this, the most they can charge you with is nothing left for us to do but place our more than six months, Mr. Cherkesov's Moscow and 4,500 from Nalchik Mr. Cherkesov was transferred to a excessive force during self-defense.' hopes in the same thing that relatives were not allowed to meet where Mr. Cherkesov had been born Article 73 of the Penal Code "com- psychiatric hospital. Two convoys But you, he said, were framed from Lermontov so ardently believed: him, supposedly because he might and where his mother, wife and son pletely reasonably establishes the escorted him on his way there. Having above." have changed his testimony. Why do live. norm that convicts should be sent to undressed Mr. Cherkesov to his under- But there is — there is a Higher this? After all, Mr. Putin had not tasked serve their sentences in penal colonies wear, these strong men in pea coats In full accordance with such a frame, Court, oh pets of the depraved! them with supervising everyday What reason is there for incarcerating of the appropriate regime that are kept him in an unheated room for the surveillance camera tapes van- There is a dreadful judge: He waits; sadism! someone so far away from their rela- located in the same region where the two-and-a-half hours (examination!), ished. He does not answer to the call of tives? He is already wretched, after all. convict lived and committed his crime. after which they handed him over to gold… Only one of Mr. Cherkesov's motions This may be true, but I already men- The point of such an arrangement is, the doctors. This took place in In order to prove that he had fired in was granted: a trial by jury. tioned the function of doom. According first of all, that during their time apart, February. Refusing any kind of treat- self-defense — from under his shoul- Only, all that is a bit too far in the to the laws of the genre, Mr. Cherkesov's the convict should not lose contact ment, Mr. Cherkesov spent ten days in der and over his assailant — Mr. future! Mr. Cherkesov's ailing mother To be honest, this surprised me. A jury relatives had to suffer as well. This way, with his family; he should retain the the hospital. From there, he was sent Cherkesov had saved his jacket and cannot wait for such a trial. represents a cross-section of society they can't reach him. They cannot verify opportunity to exercise his right to see to colony No. 31, located near the pre- requested that it be examined. He was and, in the given case, reflects social whether he received their letter or his relatives. We already mentioned vious one. refused in this. Following the aforementioned signals opinion. What this opinion was, Mr. package, or whether he is being humili- that the underprivileged part of the from the Prime Minister of Russia, Cherkesov knew well from his "former ated in prison. population is disproportionally repre- Having learned what was happening He further requested the investigators Sergei Ostapyuk met with Mr. life." It wasn't for nothing that, speaking sented among the inhabitants of the to her son, Sonya Cherkesova, who is to find the silver foreign car against Cherkesob's common-law wife, Tanya at his trial, he asked that he be judged Anya Cherkesova, Aslan's sister, hired a penal colonies; accordingly, their rela- legally blind and a cancer patient, the hood of which the soccer fans had Rzhavina, and advised her not to go on not as a Caucasian but as a citizen of lawyer in Krasnoyarsk to look after tives are unable to travel long dis- recorded a video address to Mr. Putin beaten him. The car's driver had been associating with a person who was Russia. The request fell on deaf ears. him and to pass letters to and from tances" ("How a convict can defend his and Arsen Kanokov, the head of inside and had seen everything. doomed to spend the rest of his life in him. But this did not bring rights," Trans-regional Non-govern- Kabardino-Balkaria. I can only imagine Hypothetically, he could become a wit- prison. Note that this advice was In his new life, Mr. Cherkesov discov- mental Organization Society of what it took for this proud and strong ness for the defense. This request was offered before the judgment had been ered that a trial by jury offers hope, Penitentiary Institution Curators and woman to request something from our also denied. passed down — that is, everything had however meager. Human Rights Advocates, Serpukhov, motherland's leader. Such remarkable already been decided! 2000). In practice, as the pamphlet's courage is shown in matters of life or Mr. Cherkesov asked to take a lie "Whereas in normal trials the percent- authors point out, such norms are death. For Sonya Cherkesova, being detector test. He was not allowed to do And here is another thing that was age of not guilty verdicts does not rarely followed. unable to see her son is probably the so. obviously in excess of the plan: For exceed one, in jury trials (depending equivalent of death. This, as well as the Unable to cope with systematic humil- realization that besides her basic No one considered the fact that the iation and his separation from his fam- human rights, the Law itself is being nonlethal pistol that Mr. Cherkesov ily, Aslan Cherkesov wrote a letter to violated, forced Sonya Cherkesova to had bought in 2009 had never been Vladimir Putin in which he renounced take such a step. The mother, having fired until December 6, 2010. This fact his Russian citizenship and sent anoth- sacrificed her dignity for the sake of served to prove circumstantially that er letter to the United States embassy. her son, asked President Putin to trans- Mr. Cherkesov had acquired the gun Imagine the gall of this convict! He fer Mr. Cherkesov to a region where for work purposes: He had been plan- renounced his citizenship and asked she could see him at least one more ning on getting a job with a Moscow the US ambassador for a meeting with time. But he whom she supplicates, security company. And, after all, it's US officials "in order to detail multiple knows no pity. Besides, Mrs. easy to assume that Mr. Cherkesov had facts concerning infractions against Cherkesova reminded him of the evil reason to use his firearm. human laws and rights!" role he played in Mr. Cherkesov's fate. And so, it is unlikely that her request In this country, the judiciary grovels Unless I am mistaken, this was without will be fulfilled. too much. As a consequence, there is precedent.

14 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 15 MURDER THROUGH TORTURE MURDER THROUGH TORTURE

The special forces raid lasted several On March 3, the soldiers began to EVGENIYA SHEPELEVA days. A week after the security forces search the Kartoevs' houses. Once left Ekazhevo, activists from the more, the shooting broke out and HE HOPED FOR AN Human Rights Center Memorial paid lasted all day. Later, it was established a visit to the village. They met with that during this shooting, Magomed the parents of the killed Kartoev — who had been hiding in the base- EARLY RELEASE NEVER brothers, who were accused of abet- ment of his house the entire time — ting illegal armed groups and harbor- was killed. In the evening of March 3, ing one of the ideologues of the the bodies of the dead Kartoev broth- SUSPECTING IT WOULD insurgency in the North Caucasus, ers, which had been taken to the Said Buryatsky (Alexander republican hospital's morgue on Tikhomirov). March 2, were taken away to an COME IN DEATH unidentified location. The authorities Local residents told the rights refused to return their bodies to their activists that the raid began early in relatives. During March 4-6, the sol- the morning of March 2. At five in the diers remained at the site of the raid. morning, armored personnel carriers According to Umatgiri Kartoev, the and numerous federal law enforce- head of the Kartoev family, they ran- ment agents appeared outside of Mr. sacked seven houses belonging to the In March 2010, every media outlet in the country reported that Ingush law Kartoev's house. They blockaded the family, then demolished the buildings enforcement had conducted a major special forces raid. According to the official house, as well as the houses of his and set them on fire. sons who lived nearby. Shooting version of events, "seven militants were killed during a special forces raid in broke out. The volume of fire was so *** Ekazhevo, among them Said Buryatskiy, four Kartoev brothers, a B.A. Dalgiev and high that people were afraid to go outside. The shooting went on until On March 7, after four of the Kartoev one more unidentified individual. Yet another member of this armed group, Adam nighttime. sons had been killed and another Kodzoev (b. 1979), who worked for the RF Federal Treasury Department for the three taken away, after their houses The soldiers were shooting at the had been ransacked and destroyed, Republic of Ingushetia, was killed on March 4 in Srednie Achaluki. According to house of the eldest son, Tukhan the president of Ingushetia, Yunus- FSB data, he was responsible for financing the group. The FSB reports that Kartoev. According to his mother, Bek Yevkurov, invited Mr. and Mrs. Movlatkhan Kartoeva, her son was Kartoev, as well as their relatives, to between November 2009 and February 2010, the armed group committed fifteen killed when, hearing gunfire and his meet with him. However, the Head of acts of terror targeting federal officials, local government and civilians." neighbor screaming for help, he ran the Republic did not do so in order to out to the street. Nazir, his brother, express his condolences or to com- was also killed when he tried to reach miserate with his countrymen who During the raid, ten residents of Ekazhevo were detained and taken to the the house of his brother Beslan. Yet had been left without a roof over another brother, Akhmed, was also their heads and daughters-in-law to Lefortovo FSB remand prison in Moscow. The detainees include three surviving killed during the shooting. support — that is, people who had sons of Umatgiri Kartoev, another six people surnamed Kartoev and Zelimkhan suffered a grave misfortune. Several houses, especially Tukhan's, Aushev. They are being charged as accessories to the Nevsky Express train bomb- were seriously damaged. Three fur- Instead, before an investigation or a ing on November 27, 2009. ther Kartoev brothers — Tarkhan, trial could even take place, the presi- Tatarkhan and Beslan — were dent of Ingushetia rendered his own detained; at the time, the parents judgment. He informed the devastated believed that another son, Magomed, parents that their sons were acces- had also been detained, as he was sories to a series of crimes committed nowhere to be found. The raid area in Ingushetia, including the shooting remained under the control of federal deaths of police officers. In addition to law enforcement agents, and none of this, he claimed the Kartoev brothers the local residents were permitted to had harbored Said Buryatsky in their go anywhere in the village. house. Having heard out Mr. Yevkurov

16 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 17 MURDER THROUGH TORTURE MURDER THROUGH TORTURE

The ambulance crews are well acquainted with the address in Ekazhevo. ambulance whenever the blood pres- screaming for help. Tukhan ran up to there was some kind of information There are no houses here — only the remains of foundations and a trailer sure of the Kartoev brothers' mother, her and they shot him. implicating them, then the soldiers in which the Kartoev family has taken shelter. It is from here that the Movlatkhan, rises dangerously high. could have simply interrogated them ambulance crews are often called. The family calls the ambulance whenev- "Our house was old," Mrs. Kartoeva to get additional information." er the blood pressure of the Kartoev brothers' mother, Movlatkhan, rises "For a time it seemed like my blood continues. "The soldiers told my hus- pressure would spike less frequently, band, 'We won't touch your houses, Back then, I recalled an article pub- dangerously high. but then Tarkhan died and since then old man.' But they destroyed all of lished long ago in the Severnyi I haven't gone a day without my them. Where are we supposed to live? Kavkaz newspaper, which recounted blood pressure being too high," says We have nothing left: no food, no Salman Raduev's capture. Early in the Mrs. Kartoeva. She remembers March clothes, no house. We stay with rela- morning, a group of Spetsnaz entered 2, 2010 — the day that the soldiers tives at night — there's nowhere else a house located in one of the villages in silence, Mr. Kartoev merely objected "Ask anyone in our village — anyone killed her sons right before her eyes — to go. Before destroying our homes, of Gudermessky District. Silently, that no one in the family knew will tell you I always lived honestly. down to the slightest detail. Four they drove cars into our yard and without waking the owners, they Buryatsky, that his children had always I spent fifty years in the same job. And sons. One after the other. How can a loaded them with our things. They passed to the room where Raduev made their living through honest work I raised my children to live honestly mother's heart bear something like even took our kids' diapers." was sleeping. They shook him by the and that the authorities had never had too. If they are guilty of something, this? shoulder: "Wake up, Salman. It's time any problems with his family before. why kill them on the spot? Or do we Tanzila Kartoeva, Tarkhan's wife, to go. Let's not make any noise." now have a law that allows a person There were ten children in the family, explained that her mother-in-law Raduev realized that resistance was Mr. Kartoev only asked the head of to be killed without first establishing seven sons and three daughters. became ill seeing her sons killed and useless. The soldiers took him to Ingushetia that the bodies of his dead his guilt? Only Hitler acted this way, had to be taken away in an ambu- Makhachkala where an airplane was sons be buried in accordance with without notice. People were never "Right after graduation, the boys lance. waiting for him. From there, he was Muslim tradition. He appealed to Mr. treated like this before, during Soviet began working at various construc- flown to Moscow. No one had been Yevkurov's humanity, with the hope times. The new president, Yevkurov is tion sites as welders and truck driv- "The entire time the raid was going killed during Raduev's capture; no that Mr. Yevkurov, as a fellow-Ingush, a Muslim. He wears a taqiyah and per- ers," tells Mrs. Kartoeva unable to con- on," says the young woman, "they houses were blown up. would understand him, a father who forms the dhikr. We met with him and tain her tears. "Their father worked held my father-in-law hostage. On the had lost four sons in one day. Yunus- I asked him: Some of our sons have with them. We raised them strictly. third day, they took everything Back in March 2010, the soldiers Bek Yevkurov rejected his request. been killed, the others have been Every evening, I would report to my including the car. On the fourth day, "sorting things out" in Ekazhevo, took taken away, our houses have been husband who had come back and they rigged my house, my in-laws' with them three surviving Kartoev *** destroyed, but what are our children, who wasn't home yet. In our family, house and Tatarkhan's house with brothers — Tarkhan, Tatarkhan and my grandsons, guilty of? How are they no one ever spent the night away explosives. They blew them up at the Beslan — as well as Zelimkhan On March 2, Umatgiri Kartoev, the supposed to live? They have neither a from home. Everything was very strict same time. In those four days, I lost Aushev and six other Kartoevs who father of the Kartoev brothers, was on roof over their heads nor food to eat. in our family, even on holidays, I my husband, my house, my belong- also lived in Ekazhevo. his way back from morning prayer at How are they supposed to go to swear on Allah. Even when they mar- ings and my food. We were left out on the mosque. school? The president didn't answer ried, we still knew where everyone the street without children." All ten were accused of being these questions. And when I asked was and what they were doing." *** involved in the bombing of the "All of a sudden I saw that our street that my son's bodies, who were killed About one-and-a-half years later, Nevsky Express train. was covered with military transports during the raid, be returned to us, he "It started in the morning: explosions, while the investigation was still *** and soldiers, some of them masked," could give me no clear answer. He bullets whistling," Mrs. Kartoeva underway, we discussed what had Umatgiri Kartoev has spent the inter- Mr. Kartoev recounts. "Our houses says they are terrorists. Who proved recalls the events of March 2, 2010. happened in Ekazhevo on that early vening years trying to obtain permis- were surrounded from all sides. Then, that they are terrorists? Was there a "We got scared and ran outside in our March morning. Tatiana Okushko, a sion to collect the bodies of his dead all of a sudden, they started shooting trial? A verdict? Nothing has hap- house clothes. My children had been lawyer working on the trial, won- sons in order to give them a Muslim — and not just from their rifles. I pened yet, but Yevkurov already sleeping and they ran out in their dered why it was necessary to kill burial. The official response to Mr. couldn't understand anything and no claims that my children are terrorists." underwear. I thought that a war had people who could have been arrested. Kartoev's petitions mentioned that one wanted to explain anything to begun and told them to all go to one If there were grounds for it, why not his filing had been examined by the me. My sons were shot early in the The ambulance crews are well house. Nazir was disabled; he had just surround the house and go inside Main Investigative Directorate of the morning as they, still half-asleep, acquainted with the address in problems with his leg. And so, hunch- where everyone was still asleep? RF Investigative Committee. "The rushed out of bed to answer their Ekazhevo. There are no houses here ing from the bullets, he ran to Beslan's "Everyone keeps saying that the criminal investigation is still under- neighbors' cries." — only the remains of foundations house. He couldn't run very fast due Spetsnaz is well-trained: that they way. The deadline for the preliminary and a trailer in which the Kartoev to his bad leg. He managed to reach know how to free hostages and do investigation has been extended to Mr. Kartoev falls silent for a long time. family has taken shelter. It is from Beslan's house but died there. They everything quietly and without March 23, 2012. The investigation will It is still difficult for him to relive the here that the ambulance crews are killed Nazir and Akhmed. The neigh- unnecessary noise," the lawyer said examine the possibility of releasing events from three years ago. often called. The family calls the bor ran out into the courtyard outraged. "Why kill the Kartoevs? If the bodies of the Kartoevs," states the

18 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 19 MURDER THROUGH TORTURE MURDER THROUGH TORTURE

document which is signed by Senior fore the bodies of people like the Numerous contusions and abrasions were discovered on Tarkhan Detective Ushchakovsky. "I was told Kartoevs should be returned to their Kartoev's body. The trauma were inflicted by blunt, hard objects. The con- that as long as the investigation is still relatives." going on, they cannot return the *** tusions were likely caused by blows to the skin by blunt objects. The fol- bodies," Umatgiri Kartoev told me Investigators had barely begun their lowing was discovered: fractured right second through fifth ribs along the back then. However, in the spring of work on the Nevsky Express bombing midclavicular line and fractured right fifth and sixth ribs along the paraster- 2012, the hearing in the case of the when the head of the FSB, Aleksandr nal line; fractured left fourth through seventh ribs along the anterior auxil- Nevsky Express bombing came to an Bortnikov, reported to then President iary line. Colony medical personnel claim that the nine broken ribs are a end in the Tver Oblast Court. In April Dmitry Medvedev that this high-pro- result of CPR protocols. 2012, Mr. Kartoev went to Moscow to file case had already been solved. meet with Det. Ushchakovsky. He According to Mr. Bortnikov, "mem- assumed that, since both the investi- bers of an armed group recently liqui- gation and the court examination dated in Ekazhevo were involved in intimidation that law enforcement train bombing were dropped before had come to an end, the question of this crime. As a result of the raid by agents subjected the suspects to. trial. whether he could receive his sons' special forces, ten active members of bodies for burial would finally be the armed group were detained and The European Court of Human Rights This February, the Supreme Court resolved. But from his conversation eight militants who offered armed (ECHR) examined a complaint sub- commuted Tarkhan Kartoev's sen- with the detective, Mr. Kartoev finally resistance were liquidated. The liqui- mitted by lawyers Tatiana Okushko tence to seven-and-a-half years understood that the bodies of dated militants included the ideo- and Musa Pliev, who took part in the imprisonment in a minimum-security Tukhan, Nazir, Akhmed and logue of the armed insurgency in the trial for the Nevsky Express bombing. — rather than a high-security — penal Magomed — all killed on March 2, North Caucasus, Alexander The complaint claimed that the sus- colony. The Court of Cassation like- 2010 — would never be returned and Tikhomirov (alias Said Buryatsky) as pects had been subjected to torture wise commuted the sentences of that he would never be able to bury well as the Kartoev brothers and an during the investigation. In the com- another five convicts. them in his family cemetery. employee of the RF Federal Treasury plaint examined by the ECHR on *** Department for the Republic of January 25, the lawyers write that the In June, all the defendants in the Lawyer Tatiana Okushko believes that Ingushetia." suspects in the Nevsky Express bomb- Nevsky Express bombing case were the Russian law "On the funerals and ing, Zelimkhan Aushev and Murat transported under guard to their the funeral business" — which the The official website of the FSB states Kartoev, were tortured during the respective penal colonies. On the security agencies cite as their basis for that "an underground workshop that preliminary investigation, which evening of June 28, Tarkhan Kartoev refusing to return the bodies of those the militants used to prepare impro- yielded full confessions as well as arrived at IK-2 in Yekaterinburg. On who were suspected terrorists or vised explosive devices was discov- confessionary evidence. Ms. Okushko June 29, he passed away. On June 30, their associates — "does not provide ered on one of the premises. In the and Mr. Pliev are convinced that this Tarkhan's relatives received a legal grounds for such an application course of its examination, material "confessionary evidence, obtained telegram signed by Mayor Mikheyev of its provisions." evidence has been uncovered, impli- under torture, served as the only which stated that their son had cating the Kartoev armed group in direct evidence in the basis for the passed away from cardiovascular "The law concerns individuals who the 2009 Nevsky Express bombing." judgment." insufficiency. died while committing an act of ter- ror or were killed while attempting to Since the case of the Nevsky Express In pursuance of the verdict rendered "It's not possible," Mr. Kartoev told me commit and act of terror," explains bombing was declared solved at the by Tver Oblast Court on May 22, 2012, devastated. "I spoke with him on the the lawyer. "An 'act of terror' as a legal highest levels, the investigators had four defendants — among them, two phone only three days before. He was concept is extremely vague in inves- only one thing to do: prove the Kartoev brothers — were sentenced feeling normal. We talked about fami- tigative and judicial practice. As a unprovable. to life in prison. The other six were ly matters, about the kids. Everything result, during a counter-terrorism sentenced to between seven and was okay. In our family, Tatarkhan is operation, it is enough for the securi- The entire time that the investigation eight years imprisonment. They were the sick one — he has problems with ty agencies to refer to 'any old brief' was underway (hearings in the found guilty of organizing and partic- his kidneys. But Tarkhan was always which mentions that the people in Nevsky Express bombing case were ipating in an illegal armed group, as healthy and never had any com- question are suspected of having held in Tver Oblast Court), the defen- well as illegal arms trafficking. With plaints. He was killed. They murdered committed acts of terror. This then dants refused to admit their guilt. that said, all six were found not guilty him over there. What is going on in becomes the legal basis for refusing Then as now, the lawyers considered of the banditry charge (Sec. 2, Art. 209 this world?" to return the bodies to their relatives all of the charges brought against the RF Criminal Code) — "for absence of for burial. This constitutes an erro- defendants groundless, while relatives crime in the act," according to the He was getting ready to go to neous legal construction, and there- complained about the torture and court. Charges of involvement in the Yekaterinburg with his nephew in

20 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 21 MURDER THROUGH TORTURE

as yours, is tapped," explained Mr. recorded upon Tarkhan's arrival to PS. Kartoev. "Then — if he had told you IK-2. She never received an answer. According to Elena Tishchenko, repre- what he had seen at the morgue while sentative of the main directorate of the he was still in Yekaterinburg — they "We went to the prosecution service Sverdlovsk Oblast Federal Penitentiary could have concocted some obstacles in charge of correctional institution Service, and refused to return Tarkhan's body. oversight in Sverdlovsk Oblast," Mr. "No signs of violent death were found The most important thing for them Sokolov continues, "and we made on the body. The preliminary diagnosis was to deliver the casket with another two visits to the investiga- is acute cardiovascular insufficiency. Tarkhan's body to Ingushetia as tions department of the Penal colony personnel performed quickly as possible." Yekaterinburg RF Investigative resuscitation measures for 30 minutes Committee. Tatiana Okushko met following death but could not reinstate The Kartoevs lodged a request with with an investigator there. Tatiana a heartbeat." the RF Investigative Committee for mentioned the independent exami- Ingushetia investigations department nation conducted by the relatives. Ms. Tishchenko explains the blemishes to conduct a check for the prisoner's The investigator assured her that he as postmortem lividity caused by the cause of death, after which they sent would carefully conduct a pre-investi- body's lengthy transport between his body for a forensic autopsy to gation check. Tatiana lodged a claim Yekaterinburg and Ingushetia. "All the Nazran Central Clinical Hospital. The and advocatory requests with the rel- requisite documents that are issued to hospital conducted an external exam- evant authorities. After our visit to the relatives when a convict dies were ination (without dissection) and Yekaterinburg Investigative issued. I do not know whether the docu- passed its results to the republican Committee's investigations depart- ments contained the doctors' conclu- investigatory agencies. ment, an announcement appeared on sion," added the FPS employee. the Sverdlovsk Oblast Investigative Lawyer Tatiana Okushko and Committee investigations depart- Numerous contusions and abrasions Mukhazhir Kartoev flew out to ment's website that the Investigative were discovered on Tarkhan Kartoev's order to bring back his son's body and made fun of him, but he went on "There are traces of torture. I told Yekaterinburg with video and photo- Committee would conduct an objec- body. The trauma were inflicted by bury it at home. Mr. Kartoev was believing." Umatgiri that we have to conduct an graphs showing the traces of torture. tive examination." blunt, hard objects. The contusions were afraid that everything would repeat independent examination." In the morning of June 4, they *** likely caused by blows to the skin by itself and the authorities would refuse Relatives convinced Mr. Kartoev not reached IK-2 and met with the war- Tarkhan Kartoev's funeral took place blunt objects. The following was discov- to return Tarkhan's body for burial, as to go to Yekaterinburg. Instead, on A little later, I phoned Tarkhan's den of the colony. on June 2, the same day he was ered: fractured right second through they did with his other four sons. June 30, Mr. Kartoev's nephews — uncle, Mukhazhir Kartoev. He was the returned to Ingushetia. The funeral fifth ribs along the midclavicular line one of them, the lawyer Bilan Kartoev one who explained that Tarkhan's Alexei Sokolov, a human rights was well attended. The men did not and fractured right fifth and sixth ribs The relatives notified lawyer Tatiana — traveled to Yekaterinburg. In the body bore numerous traces of torture. activist based in Yekaterinburg who conceal their tears. along the parasternal line; fractured left Okushko that Tarkhan had died in IK- morning of June 1, they arrived to IK- It turned out that not only had accompanied Ms. Okushko and Mr. fourth through seventh ribs along the 2. "The first thing that came to mind 2. I spoke to Bilan Kartoev on the Tarkhan been shackled and beaten, Kartoev recounts the meeting: "Sorrow brings people together," anterior auxiliary line. Colony medical was that the staff at IK-2 had made a phone and he said that all the requi- but his tormentors seared him with remarked Alexei Sokolov, "It doesn't personnel claim that the nine broken mistake," says Ms. Okushko. "After all, site documents for retrieving the boiling water sprayed from a hose, "During the conversation, we present- matter who you are — Muslim or ribs are a result of CPR protocols. Tarkhan had never complained about body from the morgue were issued to causing widespread scarlet-red ed our version of events, according to Christian — it doesn't matter where his health. I spoke with him. He was them without any problems and that blotches to appear on his body. It was which Tarkhan had been murdered, you live. All of us have to struggle According to a practicing surgeon-car- in good spirits. Tarkhan was con- by three o'clock in the afternoon, only later, having stumbled across a and asked [the warden] to explain the against abuses of power, summary diologist, there are indeed instances vinced that he would be released they had collected Tarkhan from the website that detailed the savagery origins of the injuries present on the executions and torture together. when the doctor may break a rib dur- from the colony prematurely. Out of morgue. When I asked whether there that takes place at IK-2, that I read body of the deceased. The warden's Today they are killing us in the pris- ing CPR. But Tarkhan Kartoev was 40 everyone, he was the only one who were any traces of torture or beatings, about an inmate named Kuzmin hands began to shake. He began to ons, but tomorrow, perhaps, they will years old. He was young and had believed that justice would triumph. Mr. Kartoev was evasive. He simply whose legs had been scalded all the assure us that the convict had already be killing us in the streets." strong bones. It would take being run He would even bring his bag with his repeated several times, "We need to way up to his groin. This is the kind of been in this state when he had arrived over by a car to break nine ribs — or personal belongings to the hearings catch the night flight to Mineralnye torture practiced at the "model penal to the colony on June 28. In the Tarkhan Kartoev's relatives will insist having someone jump repeatedly on with him. He hoped that the judges Vody, so that we can be home by colony" IK-2. I asked Mukhazhir morning of June 29, Tarkhan had on opening a criminal investigation his chest or kick him while wearing would figure things out and realize tomorrow morning." Kartoev why Bilan had not men- been walking around normally, and into the numerous beatings that led boots. An important point is that five of that a mistake had been made, that he tioned the signs of torture the day he had been fine during the day, but to Tarkhan's death. the ribs were broken on the right side, wasn't guilty of anything. He thought It was Tatiana Okushko who called before when we spoke on the phone. in the evening he suffered a heart whereas the heart, as everyone knows, they would let him go free right there me the morning of June 2. attack. The lawyer asked why the is located on the left side. This gives us in the courtroom. The other guys "He was afraid that his phone, as well signs of the beating were not formally Evgeniya SHEPELEVA pause for thought.

22 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 23 AT WAR AT WAR

and declared them an integral part of Jamaludin, born 1945) and in govern- MAIRBEK VATCHAGAEV Israel. The Chechens who did not wish ment service (the Chechen Hassan- to remain under the authority of Israel Bek was governor of the Al-Jazeera President of the Association for Caucasian Studies relocated to the environs of Damascus. Province, the center of which was Deir On the whole, there were few Chechen ez-Zor). Likewise Chechen were WHY ARE CAUCASIANS lands in the country and they were Kharcho-Shukri, a calligraphy artist scattered throughout Syria: Ras al-Ayn, famed throughout the Arabic world; Ayn al-Hamra, Al-Qamishli, Ayn el-Arab Baarshakho Hasan, who in the '40s TRAVELING TO JOIN THE and Ar-Raqqah in the north of the and '50s served as head of security for of becoming its own separate religion. country and Sinaniyya, Qurnat as Syrian president Shukri al-Quwatli; In many ways this explains the severity Safhah and El-Kunaytira in the south. and Wappi Anwar, an advisor to the of the Sunnis' — who comprise the SYRIAN CIVIL WAR? Besides these, there were a further ten Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At absolute majority of Syria's population or so communities scattered through- the present time, the well-known — resistance to the Alawites' power. out the country, which had been writer Nadya Khost is also Chechen; it There is not even a purely theoretical founded by Circassians, Dagestanis and would not be difficult to name others. possibility of agreement between the For almost two centuries, any mention of Syria held special interest for Chechens, Ossetians. That said, the settlement of Sunnis and the Alawites, since the the North Caucasians was not as chaot- The Chechens, Circassians and other Alawites revere Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Ossetians, Dagestanis, and Circassians due to the so-called muhajireen — North ic as it may have seemed from afar. The North Caucasians of Syria maintained fourth caliph and uncle and cousin of Caucasians who were expelled from their native region in the second half of the authorities intentionally sought to close relations with their compatriots the Prophet (saw). Such a theological position our muhajireen near the residing in Jordan, Turkey and other position is too extreme even for the 19th century. Back then, thousands of people who refused to acknowledge Kurds, the Druze and the Armenians, countries. Shiites who, though adherents of Russian Imperial rule, chose to leave their historical motherland and emigrate to thereby erecting natural barriers to Imam Ali, do not go so far as to pro- possible anti-government action on After the fall of the Soviet Union in claim him God. The revolutions in the the Ottoman Empire. Fate disseminated them throughout the entire empire, from the part of various Middle Eastern eth- 1991, the residents of the North countries of the Arabic Maghreb Istanbul to Cairo. Among the migrants, a portion settled in the regions which, fol- nic groups inclined to rebellion. Thus, Caucasus obtained the opportunity to (Tunisia and Libya), as well as in Egypt, in their adopted countries, our compa- go abroad and, in particular, to re- encouraged Syrian Sunnis to believe lowing the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire (November 1, 1922), became a triots were used to buttress the inter- establish connections with their fellow that they too could liberate themselves part of modern-day Syria. ests of the ruling elites. Such a form of tribesmen in Syria. Beginning in the from the rule of those whom they do muhajirism was far removed from the 1990s, thousands of Chechens and not even consider Muslim. kind envisioned by the North Dagestanis began studying in Islamic In the imaginations of multiple gener- Caucasians, who had thought that they universities in Syria. Despite the fact Nonetheless, the Syrian Civil War ations of North Caucasians, Syria was a would enjoy freedom under the that Bashar al-Assad's government for- ceased to be a purely domestic matter fairy-tale, eastern land. The splendor of authority of the Ottoman sultan due to mally adheres to a socialist ideology, a for the country's inhabitants two years Damascus was an alluring embodi- his having proclaimed himself the significant part of the country's popu- ago. The war has long since become an ment of the wealth and beauty of patron of all Muslims. They thought lace lives according to Islamic law. The international conflict as a result of the Arabic culture. Our muhajireen settled that they would be allowed to settle relationship between the Syrian state many other countries' interests in the vicinity of the Golan Heights at wherever they wanted, instead of and its Muslim population was not embroiled in it, as well as due to the the turn of the 20th century. Here they where the authorities of this or that always without conflict. In 1982, Hafez masses of volunteers from all around were compelled to defend every Ottoman province thought it was most al-Assad, the current president's father, the world who have thronged to Syria square meter of living space in the face advantageous to settle them. employed chemical weapons against wishing to aid the resistance against of resistance from the local tribes, the Kurds living in Hama. Precise data the Alawite regime in power. which in those times was considered North Caucasians played no small role is lacking, but one way or another tens customary practice. Particularly violent in the fate of Syrian society. Chechen of thousands of people died as a result. Against this background, the desire of were their conflicts with the Druze, and Circassian military and political Another problem in modern Syria is many North Caucasians, Chechens in against whom the Chechens went as figures, scientists and artists became a the fact that because the president is particular, to go to Syria is not entirely far as to undertake a military campaign common occurrence in Syrian history. an Alawite, this minority rules over the understandable. We are speaking here in 1924. With support from the French their right to live here: They forced Having acquired their right to these In particular, Chechens proved them- 90 percent of Sunnis who make up the of a country of 22.5 million people, in army, the Druze did their utmost to their enemies to reckon with them, lands through armed struggle, the selves in the army (among the well population. which just about every country of the prevent the Chechens from establish- such that by the end of the conflict, Chechens and Circassians were never- known names are the military leader Arabic world is helping the opponents ing themselves in this part of Syria. the French preferred to ally themselves theless forced to abandon them as a and recognized hero of Syria and Here it is worth pointing out that of Bashar al-Assad's regime. We should However, the newcomers from the with the Chechens instead of the result of the Six-Day War in 1967. The Jordan, Shishan Farid Abdel-Hamid, as Alawism was once a Shia sect that later recall that these 22 countries comprise North Caucasus did more than assert Druze. Israelis occupied the Golan Heights well as Brigadier General Ozdemir split off and is now reaching the stages a total population of 345 million peo-

24 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 25 AT WAR AT WAR

ple with a total land area of approxi- In the meantime, all of this seems fairly cally be between several hundred and future of Syria, but they do risk raising mately 5 million square miles. And this peculiar. A Chechen is not a warrior one thousand people, then according the Syrians' ire. The Syrians could come is not even mentioning the fact that seeking adventure — he does not hire to data provided by a source close to to an agreement tomorrow and decide the rebels are being aided by Turkey himself out to foreign armies or submit the Dagestani MVD, there are 126 per- that the Chechens are to blame for the and numerous Islamic countries. That himself to foreign codes. After all, sons in this unit from that particular strife. Even if the Chechens overthrow is, almost the entire Muslim world, there were no Chechens in Iraq or republic. However, this estimate prob- Bashar al-Assad tomorrow, they will with the exception of Iran, is on the Libya. So why Syria? It seems that a key ably does not take into account those remain unwelcome. The Syrians will side of the rebels. As such, we are talk- factor here is that Bashar al-Assad Dagestanis who came to Syria from the changed. Now, for instance, there are rushing there. The Syrians themselves never consider to ask the newcomers ing here about the support of a billion appears as a dictator and murderer of countries of the Arab East, having left even women among those who have must solve the problem. Naturally, how they should arrange their state. people. Finally, to top it all off, even Sunni Muslims. Probably, the opposi- Russia even before the beginning of traveled to Syria from Chechnya. This hundreds of other sheikhs are willing And there is no need to tell them that the countries of the West and the tion between the Sunnis and Alawites the Second Chechen War in 1999. issue has even been publically to contest this point of view. However, a jihad is underway. Syrians learned United States would not mind seeing is likewise a factor: Chechens and Therefore, the Dagestan UFSB number addressed by one of the Chechens in anyone interested in rendering a Islam not through pamphlets written the rebels defeat Bashar al-Assad, even other Sunni Muslims consider their of 200 persons is probably closer to Syria, who speaks of the inadmissibility responsible judgment, must proceed in Russian. For them, Islam predates if — wanting to avoid a repeat of the participation in the Syrian Civil War to the truth, but even this may be too low of such a thing, considers it a direct from the reality of the situation. If 90 even the great scholar Sheikh Ibn Libyan scenario — they refuse to com- be permissible because the Alawites if we account for those who came insult to all Chechens and demands percent of Sunnis wish to overthrow Taymiyyah. Our students, barely having mit their own forces. With all this receive support from the Shiites of from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, where that women be refused access. 10 percent of Alawites, they can do so learned the ABCs of theology and external support provided to the Iran and Lebanon. they were studying at this or that without a thousand Chechens — barely speaking the little Arabic they Syrian rebels, the wish of certain Islamic university. It is very simple for young people to assuming, again, that this is what the know, should not attempt to teach Chechens, Dagestanis and other North As for the actual number of Chechens travel from the North Caucasus to Syrians themselves want. Why wait for Syrians how and with whom they Caucasians to die in this country, fight- fighting in Syria, it should be said that By the way, among these volunteers, a Syria. Every day, there are two or three Barak Obama to have Bashar al-Assad should live. The Syrians are more than ing for those who are hundreds of every source tries to exaggerate it few have caused quite a stir in Syria. In flights from the region to Turkey, with hanged? We must have faith in the capable of teaching Islam themselves. times more numerous than us — all many times over. Many draw a picture particular, we should note Amir Abu which Russia has a visa-free regime. Almighty, instead of the omnipotence No — Chechens are not fighting their the Muslims of the North Caucasus put which makes it seem that there are Banat (Magomed Abdurakhmanov), a The approximate ratio of our compa- of the American president. own war in Syria. As Salman al-Ouda together — is hard to understand. currently several thousand Chechens native and resident of Khadzhalmakhi triots who have gone to Syria is ten puts it, "Leave the fighting itself to the in Syria. At this stage, this is unlikely. in the Levashinsk District of Dagestan Chechens from Europe for each Time and again, information appear- Syrians." Ever more frequently in the interna- and an ethnic Dargin who formerly Chechen from Chechnya. However, ing in the media about Chechens in tional press, one comes across men- The emigrants from the North Caucasus served in the law enforcement agen- until serious research has been con- Syria shows that their numbers among The Chechens have shown that they tion of Chechens actively fighting with are unified in the Jaish al-Muhajireen cies of the republican MVD. He was ducted in this area, any data of this type the militants are steadily growing. are good warriors and that they can the rebels against President Bashar al- wal-Ansar brigade, which was formed accused of coercion and robbery of can only be considered approximate. With that said, the Chechen groups wage war effectively. Now they must Assad in the Syrian Civil War. It is from Chechens and other North the local populace and, by order of active in Syria do not always share the prove that a Chechen can also act thought that the foreigners fighting Caucasians. Naturally, there is a large Amir Omar al-Shishani, was forced to Anyone who travels to Syria these days same attitudes toward, for example, responsibly and not allow himself to there number, on the whole, about fif- number of local Arabs among them, leave Syria. Abu Banat is likewise claims that it is his duty as a Muslim to the local populace, especially the oppress peaceful people. After all, who teen thousand people. Perhaps in actu- thanks to which the total number may accused of possible involvement in the participate in the holy jihad. Without Kurds and the Free Syrian Army forces better than a Chechen knows what it al fact there are more — and perhaps reach 1,500. The leader of this brigade murder of two Catholic priests in Syria. delving into the nuances of the theo- aligned with the West. However, the means when the rights of peaceful citi- there are fewer. No one has counted of foreigners from the North Caucasus logical concept of jihad, I will merely Chechen segment is currently still cast- zens are violated and how indefensible and everyone's numbers are based on is Abu Omar al-Shishani (Tarkhan Initially, the Chechens in Syria consist- cite the opinion of independent ing about between the numerous it is to do so? Today, Chechens are very approximate impressions. Batirashvili), an ethnic Chechen from ed of students and those who had Muslim clerics in the Middle East who, Syrian groups, trying to remain fully feared — but it is more important that Nonetheless, even with such an inflow Georgia who had earlier fought in been forced to flee Chechnya with the while acknowledging the jihad in independent. Even the fact that Amir they be respected. And it is much hard- of foreign volunteers, for some reason, Chechnya and was, before that, a mem- opening of hostilities — and who later Syria, nevertheless do not advise other Omar al-Shishani is, nominally, in the er to earn respect than to win a battle. the entire world is speaking specifical- ber of the Georgian MVD's Spetsnaz. In found themselves in Syria or nearby countries' citizens to participate in it. service of ISIL, is simply a tactical ly about the Chechens. It would seem the summer of 2013, he was appointed Egypt. Later, however, a torrent of Thus, Salman al-Ouda, a prominent choice — a concession to the exigen- The war in Syria has shocked the that with such a large overall number northern commander for the Islamic Chechens began to flow into Syria Islamic scholar, explains that physical cies of the moment instead of a final Islamic world in that part of the world. of fighters, one could only speak of a State of Iraq and the Levant (northern from European countries where they participation by foreigners in the decision. The consequences of these upheavals fairly small percentage of Chechen Syria). There are other no-less-famous had been living as refugees. The largest Syrian jihad is inexpedient. This is not may be more serious than those participants. However, if one listens to Chechen commanders: Amir Muslim contingent of volunteers came from because he does not love Syria — most But we must look toward the future as caused by all the revolutions of the what the media has to say, there is no (Margoshvili), fighting in the south of Austria, the parliament of which was likely, he loves it much more than well. Ultimately, the Syrians will not Maghreb and Egypt put together. one fighting there but Chechens. At Syria; Amir Sayfullakh (Ruslan even compelled to lodge an official those who blindly rush to join the war allow outsiders to participate in creat- Moreover, the North Caucasus cannot the same time, for the Syrians them- Machaliashvili); Amir Salakhadin; and inquiry with the Austrian Federal there. Rather, he calls for an under- ing their new state — even if these out- avoid the effects of this conflict. The selves, the Chechens' presence in Syria Amir Abu-Musaaba (Musa). Ministry of the Interior about this fact. standing of the events there and for siders simply followed their hearts' genie has been unleashed in the frames this conflict in a broader con- In the first two years of the conflict, it compassion for the Syrians but calling. Today the newcomers are their Middle East. Getting him back into the text than a simple clash between local If the number of Chechens among the was rare for anyone to go to Syria from believes that the problem won't be allies; tomorrow they could become a bottle in the coming decades will be Sunnis and the ruling Alawite minority. ranks of Syrian rebels could theoreti- Chechnya directly. But even this solved by the entire Muslim world burden. Chechens shall not decide the incredibly difficult. If at all possible.

26 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 27 THE POLITICAL PROCESS THE POLITICAL PROCESS

Iles Tatiev (second from right) at a press conference in Moscow MAGOMED EVLOEV about the Congress of Ingush People IN ILES TATIEV, INGUSHETIA GETS ITS FIRST POLITICAL PRISONER

On December 13, 2013, Sunzhensky District Court sentenced Iles Tatiev, head of the organizing committee of the Congress of the Ingush People, to three years in a general regime penal colony. This is the first time in the Republic of Ingushetia

that an opposition member has remained alive and received a prison sentence. own republic head, the Kremlin would Iles Tatiev was one such romantic. To naturally listen to them and amend its the authorities' chagrin, he did not go decision. underground or flee to the West (though he could have — while on a trip Before Mr. Tatiev, anyone who dared prevent the congress from happening. The risible assembly of the "Ingush to Europe, he had been warned that he oppose the republican authorities was The opposition spent almost a year try- People" held by Mr. Yevkurov in was under criminal investigation); sent to their family cemetery instead of ing to get permission from Mr. Nesterovskaya Stanitsa, at which the instead, he began to fight for the a jail cell. Perhaps, Mr. Tatiev was lucky. Yevkurov's officials to hold the meeting majority of delegates had been carefully Ingushes' right to elect their republic After all, he was not arrested in in Ingushetia, but over and over again vetted by the administration, delegated head autonomously. Mr. Tatiev's Ingushetia where he could have easily the authorities would find some excuse the right to elect the head of Ingushetia appointment to the position of head of been killed following an unlucky acci- to deny permission, each one less ele- to the republican parliament. But who the organizing committee was also no dental discharge of a weapon belonging gant than before. It got to the point that were the delegates of this assembly? accident: Living and working in to one of his guards or even simply in clerks in the republic's capital began Republican officials; activists devoted to Moscow, he was the one who resolved the course of "resisting arrest." refusing to accept the opposition's let- the authorities; Ingush-Belgian citizens all the issues of venue, transportation Ingushetia has long since become a ters petitioning for permission to hold who in the early 2000s had fled to the and accommodation for congress dele- place where people disappear, are the meeting. This was why activists and West in search of a better life or else ath- gates. During his last days of freedom, he abducted or die under mysterious cir- opposition members were finally forced letes who would return to their home- was occupied with managing a mass cumstances. This is why it was no acci- to look for truth in the Russian capital. It land to visit their parents during breaks media PR company. Mr. Tatiev was dent that Moscow became the chosen turned out that, even there, they were between competitions and training. As arrested on his way to an interview with site for the Congress of the Ingush not beyond the reach of Ingush officials. for the republican parliament, local resi- the radio station Echo of Moscow. The People, which elected Mr. Tatiev as head dents do not mention it in polite society. republican authorities hoped to derail of its organizing committee. The con- The summer of 2013 Any trust placed in the "people's the Congress through his arrest, but the vention hall that the Ingush organiza- was the summer of hope deputies" — the very same deputies who Congress went on regardless. In its tion rented in Moscow's Salut Hotel obediently resolved that Prigorodny course, the Ingush delegates drafted a became a safe area for congress mem- District, the cradle of the Ingush people, petition requesting that the Kremlin bers. Here, they could make presenta- There were some romantics remaining should become an integral part of the relinquish their right to elect the repub- tions without fear of being abducted or in Ingushetia who believed that if they Republic of North Ossetia-Alania — has lic head. The Kremlin did not hear their killed as they arrived. The Ingush could just fully document to the long since been irrevocably shattered. request. authorities did everything they could to Kremlin the Ingush desire to elect their

28 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 29 THE FUTURE OF THE NATION THE FUTURE OF THE NATION

Chechnya exceeds many regions of the Russian Federation in birthrate but also in child mortality

TAUS SERGANOVA, INNA AYREPETYAN A HIGH BIRTHRATE, A HIGH MORTALITY RATE

Over the past decade, the demographic problem has Even back during Soviet times, the become a major topic of discussion throughout the Chechen-Ingush ASSR led the country in infant mortality. The reasons for nation. Top government officials and famous politicians this were not publicized; however, it include this problem in their political platforms, dis- was evident that the oil, chemical and cussing it on numerous talk shows. The population of construction industries concentrated here did not improve the health of the the Russian Federation is aging. Government measures local residents, especially the very for increasing the birthrate are not having a significant young ones. effect — in many regions of the country, population These days, after the two wars, almost growth remains very low. For the moment, however, the none of the former oil and gas indus- issue is being resolved in the southern republics. One of try remains in Chechnya. In terms of the leaders in this baby boom is the Chechen Republic. harmful facilities, there is only a small number dedicated to oil extraction. According to Chechen Ministry of Health data, 29 new- Therefore, it would seem that people borns are born for every 1,000 women of childbearing should be able to live in a relatively age, while the RF average is 10.2. clean environment and their children should be healthy at birth. The reality, however, is far from ideal. DOSH magazine investigates what exactly stands behind such optimistic numbers, analyzing Chechen Let us begin with hard figures. According to Chechen Ministry of demographics in the present day. Health data for 2012, the total popula-

30 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 31 THE FUTURE OF THE NATION THE FUTURE OF THE NATION

tion of Chechnya is 1,275,219 people. women of childbearing age. The In 2012, Chechen maternity wards saw Intensive care requires 90 beds, while, Our source confirmed this and pointed Children, aged 0-17, comprise 34% Chechen Ministry of Health report 32,937 births: 2,694 less than in 2011. currently, there are only 36 available. out that this information is classified. (442,232) of this number. The Russian notes that "basically every woman Of these, 51% were normal — that is, Neonatal resuscitation requires 45 The Russian Ministry of Defense did not Federation average is 22%. entering the maternity ward has two half of all births were abnormal. beds, while only 18 are available. respond to our inquiries. Neither the or three comorbidities. Especially Medical experts claim that the number scientists nor the civilian authorities Ministry of Health analysts indicate a notable is the steady growth in the of deliveries with surgical intervention The staffing situation reflects the have access to this data. high rate infant mortality in analytical number of women admitted with has increased due to a marked and sta- above data. And yet, this issue is the reports for the post-war years. Below infectious, endocrine and cardiovascu- ble increase in fetal asphyxia and most pressing in this chain of causes One way or another, data about the are figures showing that, along with lar diseases." Aside from this, the report growth cessation. C-sections were per- and effects. There is a critical lack of high birthrate and successes in health- birthrate, infant mortality in cites insufficient quality of healthcare, formed in 6,652 cases — that is, 202 pediatricians, especially at the district care in the Chechen Republic will Chechnya exceeds many of the con- low numbers of doctors and their low for every 1,000 births. level, where there are only 170 out of remain incomplete, since a simple stituent entities of the RF. In 2012, qualifications, as well as patients' the 465 required. The average number analysis shows that there are, unfortu- there were 37,335 children who were untimely seeking of medical care, as According to most recent census data, of children for every pediatrician is nately, other no less significant indica- born living. Of them, 655 died before factors influencing the infant mortality women comprise 49.2% (624,013) of 2,038. Thus, coverage is four times tors that demonstrate the opposite. reaching the age of one; of this num- rate. the population. Of these, 338,785 — or smaller than the RF average. ber, 591 children died within the first 54.9% — are of childbearing age; the RF PS. In mid-November of this year, fed- month and 478 died within the first In Chechnya, 74.4% of pregnant average is 48.3%. Every year, 35-36 Returning to the problem of infant eral and regional news agencies and week after birth. There were 306 still- women are diagnosed with anemia (in thousand births are registered in the mortality, we will once again cite the publishers disseminated an announce- births. particular, iron-deficiency anemia), Chechen Republic. These figures sug- opinion of republican medical experts ment under a fairly optimistic headline: whereas the RF average is 37.5%. Other gest that, relative to the indicated num- who claim that "infant mortality will "Birthrate in Chechnya exceeds mortal- Chechen Republic analysts believe that diagnoses include diseases of the geni- ber of births, the required number of continue to grow, since we are regis- ity rate five-fold." the reason for such indicators is the tourinary and circulatory systems, neonatal beds should be 138, when in tering more newborns with low to high incidence of disease among venous morbidity and thyroid disease. fact there are only 100 beds available. extremely-low body masses. The mor- Citing Ramzan Digaev, the head of the tality rate among these is high and Federal State Statistics Service for the they comprise 65.7% of the overall Chechen Republic, the report claimed number of newborns." that during nine months in 2013, the Chechen Republic saw 24,885 births Aside from the causes listed above, the and 4,977 deaths. experts cautiously point to adverse socio-economic conditions, among Mr. Digaev also noted that Chechnya is them the environment, as the main among the leaders by birthrate and causes for such bleak indicators. marriage rate in Russia, with 6.5 mar- Experts in this area claim that the riages for every 1,000 people. environmental factor plays an extremely significant role in child The Caucasus Initiative Center had mortality. For example, breast milk already investigated this question. Our gathered from residents of figures, taken from official reports pub- Gudermessky District and sent to lished by the Chechen Ministry of Health, Moscow for tests was found to contain do not engender similar optimism. Child a high level of carcinogens. This study mortality is very high; the preterm birth was conducted regionally by a rate exceeds 60%; maternity wards are Bashkortostan organization with admitting large numbers of expectant approval from the Chechen Republic mothers with several comorbidities; Parliament Committee on the there is a dire lack of pediatricians; and Environment. The many years of oil at the Central Maternity Clinic in evaporation throughout the republic Grozny, it is considered normal to have still show their effects to this day. 6-7 infants die daily.

Chechen experts claim that federal mil- During our private conversations, med- itary authorities have drawn up a map ical experts described Chechnya's of the Chechen Republic that indicates infant mortality rate and available districts that are ecologically hazardous. pediatric services as catastrophic.

32 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 33 HUMAN RIGHTS. INTERVIEW HUMAN RIGHTS. INTERVIEW

What leads to the so-called cold cases [criminal cases that never IGOR KALYAPIN reach trial — Ed.]? What is the main obstacle to their examina- AS LONG AS PEOPLE tion? While investigating a crime, it is not TURN TO US FOR HELP, merely enough to duly perform a series of operational-investigatory measures in the correct order. It is extremely WE WILL CONTINUE important that they be performed in a timely manner. We are constantly encountering utterly unjustified delays. WORKING IN CHECHNYA In one of our cases, we were forced to spend eighteen months on forcing the investigator to extract a bullet lodged in a wall at the scene of an abduction. In the fall of 2009, a few months after the murder of Natalya Estemirova, an If it had been extracted right away, we could have identified the specific employee of the Human Rights Center Memorial, and following the Center's tempo- weapon it had been fired from and rary cessation of activities in Chechnya, the Russian human rights organization cre- thereby established the identity of the police officer who carried it. However, ated the Joint Mobile Group (JMG) of human rights activists for Chechnya. the investigator did not want to do Igor Kalyapin is the founding head of the JMG, as well as the director of the Nizhny this. At first, supposedly, he simply did not notice the bullet during an exami- Novgorod-based Committee Against Torture and, as of 2013, a member of The nation of the crime scene. I use the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civic Society word "supposedly" in full confidence, since it had been established from the and Human Rights. Mr. Kalyapin sat down with Abdulla Dudaev and spoke with very beginning that the abduction had him about the JMG's work in Chechnya, about why criminal investigations are been accompanied with gunfire and that the police had wounded the per- dragged out indefinitely and about his meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of son they abducted with one of their the Chechen Republic. assault rifles. Any child would con- clude that, if there was a shooting, then there must be bullets in the build- Does the JMG have information and purposes, these people had been for the majority of these cases, going ing's walls. Yet somehow this did not about abductions and summary abducted. All of these cases are cur- to trial is not even an option at the occur to the Investigative Committee executions in Chechnya for the rently under official investigation by moment. There are only a few cases in We can do no more in such instances. we appeal the refusal in court and investigator and he did not bother to past year? the Investigations Department of the which an investigation still may estab- These cases fell apart because the while the court examines our com- look for a bullet. When our lawyers Russian Investigative Committee for lish the suspects' identities and prove Investigative Committee investigators plaint. Oftentimes, when an investiga- discovered the bullet hole, the investi- Yes. Several people approached us in the Chechen Republic. Our lawyers are their guilt. Whether this will ever did not take the appropriate measures tor is instructed by the court that his gator avoided extracting the bullet for 2013, whose relatives had been representing the plaintiffs in these become a reality, whether the investi- to collect and record evidence in a refusal of our petition was unlawful, he a long time (and, keep in mind, that abducted by unknown persons — pre- investigations. gators will have the courage to finish timely manner, thereby shirking their formally agrees to perform the investi- only an investigator can do this). As a sumably police officers. Besides this, their work, I cannot say. I can only duties in one way or another. gatory measure we requested, but then result, the bullet was extracted only there are complaints filed by people How many cases have you taken promise that we will do everything Unfortunately, we cannot issue orders a month goes by and nothing happens. half a year later and, due to significant who claim that they were detained by on since the JMG began its activi- that we can for this to happen. In the to investigators to undertake this or Such practices — when, on paper, corrosion, turned out to be useless for the police and held for a significant ties? How many of them have other cases, we will go on with our that investigatory measure. We can investigatory measures are planned identifying the weapon. Such situa- amount of time (8 to 40 days) on the been brought to a close? work, even if just to ensure that the only submit petitions to this effect — but in reality are never even started — tions are, unfortunately, all too com- premises of various MVD divisions — victims receive fair compensation in which, in effect, is the same thing as is very typical for the Investigative mon. And the heart of the matter here without legal paperwork, without As of November 2009, the JMG has the European Court and that the making a recommendation or asking. Committee's work in the Chechen is of course not the investigators' notice of relatives and without provi- taken on 18 cases. As of today, not a investigators who failed to conduct an Sometimes our petitions are denied Republic. As a result, time goes by and incompetence, but their basic fear and sion of legal counsel. For all intents single one has gone to trial. Moreover, effective investigation are punished. and then invaluable time goes by while evidence of the crime disappears. helplessness. They are afraid of looking

34 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 35 HUMAN RIGHTS. INTERVIEW HUMAN RIGHTS. INTERVIEW

Firstly, certain high-ranking supervi- happen in Chechnya. In effect, law Republic with all the problems another meeting with the aides who to what degree they manage to find a sors of the Chechen police believe that enforcement agents in Chechnya have described above. Back then, we had were present at our conversation but it common language and achieve con- criminality may be fought by any avail- established their own dictatorship eight abduction cases and in each one was to no avail. I never fled anywhere crete results. Well, and aside from all able means: falsified evidence, abduc- where Russian laws are viewed as rec- I could see the Investigative from the Chechen Republic. I go there this, I am the head of an inter-regional tions and month-long detentions ommendations that can be performed Committee's utter incompetence to quite often, while my employees are human rights organization — the without legal counsel, torture, intimi- or ignored at will. conduct an investigation. The police there all the time. Never once have I Committee Against Torture, a subdivi- dation and deception. The fact that simply ignored the investigators and, received any invitations to "have sion of which has been operating in basically any person — including And finally, thirdly, in a situation where what is more, everyone — from the another conversation" from Mr. the Chechen Republic for five years someone entirely innocent — may be the police have absolute power, noth- rank and file traffic cops to Mr. Kadyrov himself or anyone else from now. Our work concerns an issue that designated a criminal by being forced ing is done to protect the victims and Alkhanov, the minister of internal his administration. And that's too bad the residents of Chechnya themselves to confess to the Kennedy assassina- witnesses. As a result, both are intimi- affairs for the Chechen Republic — because there are things worth dis- consider to be highly significant. tion or even to arranging the Great dated and end up retracting any testi- demonstrated this kind of insouciance. cussing. As for the "kisses and Through our work in the other parts of Flood does not much perturb those monies that implicate police officers. In embraces," I think that Mr. Kadyrov the country, we have seen that it is who believe in such a course of action. all the cases I mentioned above — the I don't believe at all that Mr. Kadyrov has mistaken me for someone else. possible to solve the problem of For some reason it does not occur to ones that still have a chance of going to and I failed to find a common lan- unlawful police coercion, even though them that this kind of "work" is in itself trial — we were forced to evacuate the guage during our conversation. On the You submitted a membership doing so requires a lot of difficult against the law and constitutes grave victims to different regions of Russia contrary, Mr. Kadyrov assured me that application for the newly-created work. The police begin to understand official malfeasance. And yet, unlawful and enroll them in witness protection he never defended and never would Council for Human Rights under that such conduct can not only lead to conduct by the police gives the ideo- programs there. The witness protection defend those who broke the law, the Head of the Chechen their dismissal but even land them in logues of terrorism in the North department in the Chechen Republic regardless of their rank, position or Republic, an analogue of the simi- prison. As a result, the situation for the perpetrators: It's too dangerous Caucasus the opportunity to call for has shown itself utterly ineffective in prior plaudits. He promised to hold a lar Presidential Council of Russia. becomes at least partially manageable. for them to find them. The investiga- armed struggle against Russian author- this situation. Police officers who work meeting with the republic's prosecutor Why do you want to be a member When this happens, everyone wins: the tors understand that the abductors are ity and facilitates the dissemination of for the witness protection department and minister of internal affairs in order of two councils? Does member- civilians as well as the MVD, which, as police officers working for the MVD of anti-governmental, extremist attitudes. are unwilling to protect plaintiffs from to clearly articulate his position on the ship in the federal Council pre- a result of our efforts, is purged of the Chechen Republic — that is, they For some reason, police leadership their colleagues' illegal pressure. matter. He kept his word: There was vent you from solving important scoundrels who compromise the are people who are basically untouch- does not care about any of this: The Moreover, it seems like they are simply indeed such a mini-meeting in the issues in the regions? What is the police in the eyes of the population. able. Let's say the investigator performs guardians of order are so zealous to incapable of doing so. beginning of March. In the presence of reason, in your view, for your For the moment, however, all our a proper and timely investigation and fight criminals that they themselves Mr. Savchin, the prosecutor of the being denied membership in this work in Chechnya has not yielded any establishes that the suspect is a police turn into bandits. It is this connivance In 2010, you met with Ramzan Chechen Republic, Mr. Kadyrov told council under Mr. Kadyrov? results. I considered my joining this officer. What is he supposed to do — and at times open support on the Kadyrov in Grozny. How did your Minister Alkhanov that there could be Council to be the right step, but they then? According to the law, he must part of the leadership — that gives meeting go? What did you talk and should be absolutely no reason for When it comes to my desire to work did not invite me, so I decided to take bring him in, interview him, conduct police officers who are suspected of a about? And why were you unable an officer to fail to appear before an with the Human Rights Council under the initiative and apply myself. I was an identification, arrange a line-up, crime the opportunity to ignore the to find a common language? The Investigative Committee investigator. the Head of the Chechen Republic, I politely declined. I don't consider it and, if necessary, detain and arrest the demands of Investigative Committee head of Chechnya suggested that If the police officer is occupied with a really did submit such an application, necessary to discuss this further, since I suspect. But the investigator under- investigators, not appear at official you refused to accept his offer for field operation, the investigator should hoping that I would be invited to join. think that everything is pretty clear. stands that he cannot do any of this. interviews and sometimes even openly collaboration. To be precise, here be called and notified and a new Firstly, this would have given me the The important thing is something else. The police officer under suspicion will threaten investigators and intimidate is the quote from his interview appointment time should be agreed opportunity to directly interact and Whether I meet with Mr. Kadyrov or not appear for the interview. The wit- witnesses. with Snob magazine: "I met with upon as soon as possible. At the time, it resolve certain issues with the chief of not is his business. He is, as they say, nesses and plaintiffs will instantly Mr. Kalyapin. I told him, 'Let's seemed to me that Mr. Kadyrov was the criminal police of the Chechen "within his right" here. I cannot force become subject to intimidation. Even Secondly, the Investigative Committee work together.' He kissed and earnest and I expected some kind of Republic, Deputy Minister of Internal him to work with me. But we will the investigator himself will start for the Chechen Republic is itself in embraced me. I knew that he radical changes after that meeting. But Affairs Apti Alaudinov, who is also a work in the Chechen Republic — with encountering problems. The case will effect incapable of exercising meas- wanted to advertise himself. absolutely nothing changed. Even in member of the Council. Secondly, it Mr. Kadyrov or without him. Our main fall apart one way or another, while he, ures of procedural compulsion. If in I gathered everyone together and those eight cases that we discussed seemed important to me to, even if instruments are Russian laws — our the investigator, will acquire enemies Nizhny Novgorod or Orenburg Oblast, said, 'Okay, show us the evidence.' with Mr. Kadyrov, everything remained rarely, be able to submit the informa- legal team knows how to use them. As among the police. It's a sad state of a police officer fails to attend an But he ran away and started with the same. As before, the investigators tion I had about crimes perpetrated by long as Chechnya is a part of Russia, affairs, isn't it? Investigative Committee interview his doubletalk. I told him, 'Don't were not provided with information Chechen police directly to the head of we will try to ensure that its residents without a good reason, his own col- go. Let's have another conversa- from police documents and as before, the republic. Thirdly, as a member of enjoy the protection of the Russian What, in your opinion, are the leagues will bring him in, in handcuffs, tion...'" the officers did not show up to their the Presidential Council of Russia, it Constitution and Russian law, which causes for this situation? the very next day. And if they don't, interviews. And they still don't. I tried was important for me to see for myself guarantee the complete observance of then agents from one of the MVD's or I really did have a one-on-one meeting calling Mr. Kadyrov using the number how the representatives of civil society human and civil rights. As long as peo- There are several. I would point to FSB's special detachments will. with Mr. Kadyrov, during which I con- that he gave me during the meeting. and Chechen civic organizations inter- ple turn to us for help, we will contin- three in particular. However, this kind of thing does not fronted the head of the Chechen He never answered. I tried to arrange act with the republican leadership — ue working in Chechnya.

36 DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 17/2015 37 in thiscitythatclaimeddozensoflives.Thefirsthappenedtherailway a day, on29thand30thofDecember,thereweretwobombexplosions The lasttwodaysof2013weremarredbybloodyterroristattacks in thesouthofcountry-Volgograd. Withanintervaloflessthan New Yearstragedy station, thesecond-inoneofcity'strams. in Volgograd

17015