March 2001 Vol.13, No.1 (D) RUSSIA/CHECHNYA THE “DIRTY WAR” IN CHECHNYA: FORCED DISAPPEARANCES, TORTURE, AND SUMMARY EXECUTIONS SUMMARY. 3 The Obligation to Investigate . 4 Searches by Relatives . 4 BACKGROUND NOTE ON THE RUSSIAN OPERATION IN CHECHNYA . .5 A Note on Detentions . .7 DETENTIONS AND “DISAPPEARANCE”. 7 “Disappearances” After Large-Scale Sweep Operations . 8 Novye and Starye Atagi (January 14 - 16, 2001). 8 The “Disappearance” of Akhmed Zaurbekov and Khamzad Khasarov . .8 The “Disappearance” of Said-Magomed Debizov and Iznaur Serbiev . 9 The Possible “Disappearance” of Bekkhan Bargaev . .9 Gekhi (August 8 to 11, 2000). 9 The “Disappearance” of Ali Musaev (age twenty-eight), Umar Musaev (age twenty-three). 10 The “Disappearance” of Adlan Eldarov . .. .. .11 “Disappearances” During Targeted Sweep and Special Operations . .. .11 The “Disappearance” of Akhdan Tamaev (Roshni-Chu, January 6, 2001). .. 11 The “Disappearance” of Aslan Dundaev, age twenty-four (Urus-Martan, December 18, 2000). 12 The “Disappearance” of Said-Rakhman Musaev, Magomed Magomadov, and Odes Mitaev (Raduzhnoe and Dolinskii villages, December 10, 2000) . 13 The “Disappearance” of Jabrail Alaskhanov (Grozny Central Market, November 26, 2000) . 13 The “Disappearance” of Edilbek Isaev (Sweep Operations at Starye Atagi Hospital, September 7, 2000). 14 The “Disappearance” of Nura Lulueva, Markha Gakaeva, and Raisa Gakaeva (Raid on Northern Market in Grozny, June 3, 2000) . 14 The Raid on Alkhan-Kala Hospital (February 3, 2000). 15 “Disappearances” from Checkpoints or Roads . 16 The “Disappearance” of Said-Khusein Imakaev, age twenty-three (On the Road Between Starye and Novye Atagi, December 17, 2000). .. .. 16 The “Disappearance” of Adam Davletukaev (Alkhan-Kala, December 18, 2000). 16 The “Disappearance” of Adam Abubakarov (Between Urus-Martan and Goity, March 14, 2000) . 16 The “Disappearance” of Islam Dombaev, Murat Lyanov, and Timur Tabzhanov (Sadovaya Street, Grozny, June 28, 2000). 17 The “Disappearance” of Nineteen People at the Checkpoint Between Duba-Yurt and Chiri-Yurt (January 13, February 18 and March 6, 2000). .18 “Disappearances” During Nighttime Raids . .19 The “Disappearance”of Musa Gairbekov (Grozny, October 8, 2000). 19 The “Disappearance” of Lom-Ali Aziev (age twenty-seven) and Umar-Ali Aziev (age twenty-six) (Grozny, September 24, 2000). 19 “Disappearances” from Detention Centers and Police Stations . 20 The “Disappearance”of Abdulkasim Zaurbekov (October district temporary police station, October 17, 2000) . 20 The “Disappearance” of Yusup Satabaev, Yunus Chadaev, Aslanbek Gugiev, and Kazbek Vakhaev (“Internat” Detention Center, Urus-Martan, August 14, 2000) . 21 THE RESPONSE OF STATE AUTHORITIES . .22 Procuracy Investigations into “Disappearances”. 22 Lack of Authority . 23 Lack of Diligence . .25 The Disposition of the Procuracy . 27 The Office of the Special Representative . 29 TORTURE AND SUMMARY EXECUTION . 30 Mass Dumping Site at Dachny Village, near Khankala . 31 The Bodies of Magomed Magomedov, Said-Rakhman Musaev, and Odes Mitaev . 32 The Bodies of Nura Lulueva, Raisa Gakaeva, and Markha Gakaeva . 32 Bodies at the Novye Atagi Quarry (Discovered January 26, 2001) . 32 Dumped Body at Abandoned Farm near Alkhan-Yurt (Discovered January 21, 2001) . 33 Unmarked Grave at Jalka (Discovered September 16 and 20, 2000) . 33 Grave No. 1, Three Dead Bodies, Found September 20, 2000 . 33 Grave No. 2, Two Dead Bodies, Found September 16, 2000 . 34 Unmarked Grave of the Musaev Brothers in Gekhi (Discovered September 12, 2000) . 35 Three Unmarked Graves at Starye Atagi (Discovered April or May, June 15, and September 13, 2000) . 35 Grave No. 1, At Least One Body, Found in April or May, 2000 . 35 Grave No. 2, Four Bodies, Found on June 15, 2000 . 36 Grave No. 3, Four Bodies, Found on September 11, 2000 . 36 Unmarked Grave in Tangi-Chu (Discovered May 10, 2000). 37 A Dumped Body in the Assa River (Discovered April 1, 2000). .37 A Dumped Body at the Urus-Martan Hospital (Discovered March 10, 2000). 37 RECOMMENDATIONS . .39 To the Government of the Russian Federation . 39 To the United Nations Commission on Human Rights . 39 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 41 For me, every second feels like a whole year —Zulai Azieva, mother of “disappeared” Lom-Ali and Umar-Ali.1 [One official] said that the children were at Khankala, that they had drugs on them. I don’t care if they had taken them with an atomic bomb, but.