European Court condemns Russia on five Chechen cases

Today, the European Court on Human Rights has announced its decisions on five cases related to violations of Chechen residents' rights. According to these decisions, the aggregate compensation awarded to the applicants on all five cases for their material and mental damage will make 549,700 euros.

In the case Alaudinova versus Russia (32297/05) the complaint was filed on behalf of Lipa Alaudinova, a resident of the city of Urus-Martan, whose son disappeared after illegal arrest in 2001.

In this case, Ms Alaudinova was represented by lawyers of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" (Moscow) and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC, London).

In other cases, the applicants were represented by lawyers of the non-commercial organization (NCO) "Legal Initiative for Russia".

The case Gakiev and Gakieva versus Russia (3179/05) has to do with disappearance of Idris Gakiev. Russian militaries detained Idris in his house in the city of Argun on November 30, 2003. The soldiers severely beat Khalid Gakiev, Idris' father. On March 29, 2004, mutilated body of Idris was found in Grozny.

The applicants in the case Bitieva et al versus Russia (36156/04) are close relatives of the eight persons, who disappeared after detention by Russian militaries in Duba-Yurt village on March 27, 2004. Their bodies with bullet wounds were found in the forest near Serzhen-Yurt village on April 9, 2004.

The case Israilova et al versus Russia (4571/04) deals with disappearance of Sharpuddin Israilov and Adlan Dovtaev. They were detained by Russian militaries at the block post in the highway Grozny-Urus-Martan on December 30, 2002.

The case Khachukaev versus Russia (28148/03) has to do with disappearance of Murad Khachukaev after detention by Russian militaries in Goity village on February 5, 2003. His body was found a couple of days later.

Having studied the circumstances of the cases, the Strasbourg Court has decided that the relatives of the applicants were kidnapped, and in three cases - murdered by Russian militaries, as the "Gazeta.Ru" writes.