Human rights defenders call Arsamikov’s case typical for Chechnya

The realities of Chechnya do not allow anyone to consider the video with Idris Arsamikov as proof that he is safe, and his case is typical for dissidents who left Chechnya, but then decided to arrive in the republic on personal matters, human rights defenders point out.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on February 16, it became known that 28-year-old Idris Arsamikov, who returned from the Netherlands to Russia, was detained in Moscow. The young man was taken to Chechnya, where he is in mortal danger, the human rights defenders suggest.

A video appeared on the social media in which Idris Arsamikov stated that he was at home in Chechnya and intended to go to the special military operation in Ukraine, and the young man also asked the human rights defenders to “leave him along.” The video was recorded under pressure, the human rights defenders believe.

The statement voiced by Idris Arsamikov in the video cannot be considered a refusal of help from the human rights defenders, emphasizes Alexandra Miroshnikova, the press secretary for the “SK SOS Crisis Group”.

Lawyer Galina Tarasova notes that a person can declare that he or she is safe, but at the same time his or her life may be in danger.

“There were a lot of cases in Chechnya when people complained about human rights violations, and then videos appeared on the Internet with their apologies or retractions,” Galina Tarasova states.

“It is typical when Chechen natives who left [dissenters] return to the funeral of their relatives or because of the illness of someone from their families. Sometimes they are being repeatedly detained and tortured, but, as a rule, our clients manage to leave Chechnya again ... Idris chose the worst time for such risky adventures. The year of 2022 greatly complicated the situation in Russia and Chechnya, repression intensified, and it became more difficult for people to get out of the region,” emphasized the press secretary for the “SK SOS Crisis Group”.

Svetlana Gannushkina*, the chair of the “Civic Assistance Committee”*, does not rule out that Idris Arsamikov may no longer be found.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.