28 April 2023, 19:25
Rights defenders tell about fate of kidnapped Alkhan-Kala villagers
After kidnapping, residents of the village of Alkhan-Kala were accused of links with militants, Oyub Titiev, a human rights defender, has stated. Bringing charges some time after the kidnapping, when people were forced to confess to crimes, is a common practice, said Oleg Orlov, a co-chairman of the "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Defence.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 18, 2023, the above "Memorial" Centre reported that after the check, the information about the kidnapping of at least 25 Alkhan-Kala villagers by Chechen law enforcers was confirmed. On April 24, human rights defenders reported that the detainees were kept in a detention centre on charges of links with militants.
Relatives of the kidnapped people still refuse to communicate with human rights defenders and journalists, Oyub Titiev has reported. "At first they talked about 25 detainees. Some of them were released. Therefore, the exact number of those in custody is still unknown," he has added.
In his opinion, "one of the well-wishers" has advised relatives of the kidnapped villagers not to communicate with rights defenders and journalists.
Kidnapping of relatives is used systematically in Chechnya, the above "Memorial" Centre reported in January, commenting on the kidnapping of the Khatuev and Solsaev brothers.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 27, 2023 at 11:09 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Source: СK correspondent
