Chechens Harassed by Russian Law Enforcing Bodies
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 98 10:16:49 -0500
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject: Chechens Harassed by Russian Law Enforcing Bodies
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Felix Corley <[email protected]>
Chechens Harassed by Russian Law Enforcing Bodies
Chechens Harassed by Russian Law Enforcing Bodies in Southern Russia Moscow,
Chris Hunter, Centre for Peacemaking ([email protected])
4 January 1998
The new measures announced by Russian Interior Minister General Anatoli
Kulikov 29 December 1997 to limit and control the movement of people into
and out of Chechnya is leading to renewed discrimination and harassment of
Chechens on a scale not witnessed since the 21-month Russian-Chechen war
ended in August 1996. Russian Interior Ministry troops have been stationed
at checkpoints along all roads leading towards Chechnya in the surrounding
republics of Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia and Dagestan, and
the Stavropol region. For several days the border between Chechnya and
Dagestan has been sealed off altogether. The move follows a recent attack
allegedly by Chechen fighters and terrorists on the Dagestani town of
Buinaksk. At first Russian media reports suggested that Chechens, Dagestanis
and people of other nationalities were involved in the terrorist attacks.
Subsequent reports mentioned only Chechen bandits. It can not be excluded
that the facts, not for the first time, are being manipulated by some
Russian leaders such as Kulikov to provide excuses for tougher measures
against the Chechens. Kulikov, who was closely associated with the Kremlin's
'party of war' during the war in Chechnya, and others are dissatisfied with
the outcome of the war and the perceived soft approach which has been taken
towards the Chechens since. They regularly undermine and ridicule the
efforts of the Chechen leadership to restore order and to control the chaos,
destruction and poverty left by the war in Chechnya. 30 December 1997, the
Moscow-Ingushetia 'Karat' flight left Moscow at 13:30 and due to thick fog
was forced to land in Mineralniye Vodi, around 250km West of Chechnya. On
the plane was the deputy director of the Centre for Peacemaking and
Community Development* Adlan Adaev. Adlan Adaev, a 27 year old Chechen from
Sernovodsk who manages the Little Star project, was told by masked Russian
militia to get out of the taxi which he and two Ingush men had hired from
Mineralniye Vodi to the town of Sleptsovskaya on the Chechen/Ingush border.
The checkpoint was situated 50 metres away from the Mineralniye Vodi airport
. Adaev and the young Ingush man travelling with him were thoroughly
searched by the militia. The Ingush man had half of his 400,000 Roubles
(US$65) taxi money to Grozny confiscated. No reason or receipt was given.
Adaev was carrying $8000 to pay wages for staff of the 'Little Star'
children's rehabilitation centre** in Grozny and to help cover installation
costs of a grain mill which the Centre for Peacemaking and Community
Development has provided to assist those most vulnerable in the harsh post-
war conditions in South West Chechnya. 10 million Roubles ($1700) which he
was carrying for a friend were also taken from him. Again, no reason was
given and no receipt documents were provided. The militia behaved
aggressively and swore constantly. Nine cars of people from the Ingushetia
flight were stopped in this way near the Mineralniye Vodi airport and at
numerous checkpoints along the route to Chechnya. Adaev held on to the
remaining sum of money by handing it to the taxi driver, who was not
searched, for the duration of the journey. Several men from the Ingushetia
flight refused to hand over money at the Mineralniye Vodi checkpoint. They
were not released by the time the majority of people left to travel to
Ingushetia. Previous experiences of those who have found themselves in the
position of Adaev and his travel companions suggests that any attempt to
appeal against such actions is counterproductive. As no proof that the money
was confiscated is available, any claims asserting this would be routinely
rejected. Further harassment would almost certainly result. The rights and
dignity of Chechen people in Russia continue to be disrespected. New Year
celebrations have been outlawed by the Chechen Shariah Court following the
start of the major bombing and artillery attacks on Grozny exactly 3 years
ago. The attacks were on a scale to those launched on Dresden during the
second world war. The 21 month war that followed displayed scenes of
unprecedented cruelty, particularly by the occupying Russian forces against
the civilian population in Chechnya. Increasing tensions due to the renewed
aggressive, discriminatory methods of Russian law enforcing bodies and
violent acts by a small minority of Chechens and people of other
nationalities may lead to further outbreaks of violence - not only in
Chechnya but throughout the North Caucasus as a whole. Comments by Chechen
Vice President Vakha Arsanov last week in Grozny that Russia risks losing
the whole of the Caucasus as a result of its ill-mannered attempts to hold
on to Chechnya (which it has already lost), appear to be well-based.
* The Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development is an NGO registered
in the UK and Chechnya which works to assist victims of conflict and to
promote human rights, nonviolent conflict resolution methods, peace
education and supports non-governmental organizations working in similar
fields in the North Caucasus, Moscow and other parts of Russia.
** In May 1997 the Centre opened the children's psychological rehabilitation
centre 'Little Star' in Grozny to assist children traumatized by the war in
Chechnya.
--
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