Document - RUSSIE (TCHÉTCHÉNIE). Aslan Akhmadov. CAS D'APPEL

Russian Federation

The case of Aslan Akhmadov

Aslan Pavlovich Akhmadov (born 1979) was detained on the morning of 6 March 2002 outside his house in Starye Atagi, Chechen Republic. On that day reportedly Russian federal forces were conducting a raid on the village, in order to check passports. Aslan Akhmadov and several other men were taken away, reportedly in order to verify their passports. Since than five men from the village, including Aslan Akhmadov have been "disappeared". His family has no information about his whereabouts and wellbeing.

Reportedly following further raids by Russian federal forces on the village in March 2002 the General Procuracy of the Russian Federation ordered the establishment of a special commission to investigate violations of Russian law which had occurred during the raids, including the "disappearance" of at least 10 men. However, the commission has been unable to establish the fate and wellbeing of Aslan Akhmadov.

His family together with other families from the village appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. Since then Amnesty International has learned that the Akhmadov family as well as other families in the village have been subjected to further human rights violations (see "The Risk of Speaking Out" AI Index: EUR 46/059/2004) and to harassment from the side of the authorities.

Amnesty International met with members of the family who told, among other incidents, about a raid by men in masks and camouflage on their house in June 2004, during which Aslan Akhmadov’s brothers and his father were beaten and his mother and sister were verbally abused.

The family is determined to go on looking for Aslan Pavlovich Akhmadov and to seek justice for the human rights violations they have been subjected to.

Aslan’s sister, Lisa Pavlovna Akhmadova, told Amnesty International that she will continue to write appeals on behalf of her brother and other members of her family until her hands can not write anymore, until all the world knows about the fate of her family.

Please write to the Russian authorities;

- Expressing concern about the fate and well-being of Aslan Akhmadov and urging the authorities to release any information they may have about his whereabouts.

- Expressing concern about the alleged ill-treatment of the relatives of Aslan Akhmadov in June 2004.

- Urging to thoroughly and effectively investigate the circumstances of Aslan Akhamdov’s "disappearance" and to bring to justice in a court of law, those found responsible.

- Urging the immediate release of Aslan Akhmadov if he is being held by law enforcement officials or for him to be charged with a recognizable criminal offence and be given access to a lawyer of his choice and his family.

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