Law enforcers' raid in Urus-Martan surprises natives of Chechnya

In the city of Urus-Martan, law enforcers conducted searches in the empty houses of Musa Vatsuev and Lecha Elmurzaev, who left Chechnya long ago. Both natives of the republic treat such law enforcers' attention as unexpected.

In particular, on December 16, they searched the house where Musa Vatsuev, who now lives in Europe, used to live.

"The search was held in my house in Urus-Martan; rather, it is my father's house; the last time I was there in 1999. After that, in 2000, the house was burned down by militaries. In 2003, I was imprisoned (under the article of 'Encroachment on the life of a law enforcer, a military serviceman, as well as of their relatives', note of the "Caucasian Knot"), although nothing was proven, for 18 years. I was released in 2020. During this time, in 2007-2008, my father and mother somehow restored the house, and lived there with my younger brother," Musa Vatsuev has explained.

According to his story, his father died in 2016, and his mother – in 2020. Soon he managed to leave for Europe, where he would like to file a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). "A year ago, my brother left for the United States; and the house was empty. The keys to it were with the neighbours, who were forced to open the house to law enforcers ... They found nobody there and asked relatives on whether my brother or my wife were there. Then, they left," Mr Vatsuev continued, suggesting that the law enforcers' visit was due to suspicions of his oppositional activities.

The house of Lecha Elmurzaev, which was also searched, is located not far from the Vatsuevs' one; and there was no one there when law enforcers arrived.

"There is no one in our house; my mother and my brother were the last to live there. They also left there about two years ago, after the start of [the special military operation (SMO)] in Ukraine. They left Chechnya because of the fears that my younger brother could be sent there," Lecha Elmurzaev said, emphasizing that he had no idea what law enforcers might need. "I served my prison term from 2003 to 2008. Musa (Vatsuev) and I figured in the same case. But he got a long sentence. In 2008, when I was released, I lived at home for several months and left it in August 2008. Since then, I have never been there," Elmurzaev has added.