Take action: Appeals

Torture and killings in Chechnya

Kheda Kungaeva’s parents with photographs of their daughter as they remember her and as she was found. © Paula Allen

Take Action Write to: Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Human Rights and Freedoms in the Chechen Republic, Abdul-Khakim Sultygov, Staraia ploshad, d.2, pod. 6, 103132 Moscow, Russian Federation Fax: +7 (095) 206 7344 Urge him to: • Ensure that all allegations of human rights abuses are investigated thoroughly and impartially and that the perpetrators are brought to justice. • Ensure that all victims of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law are able to obtain redress and have an enforceable right to fair and adequate reparation.

‘Despite strong evidence of rape and other sexual violence committed by Russian forces in Chechnya, the Government of the Russian Federation has failed to conduct the necessary investigations or to hold anyone accountable for the vast majority of cases.’
UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, February 2001

Kheda (Elza) Kungaeva was taken from her home in Tangi-Chu, south of the Chechen capital, Grozny, on 26 March 2000 by Russian soldiers under the command of Colonel Yury Budanov. Her family never saw her alive again.

Colonel Budanov took 18-year-old Kheda Kungaeva to his tent, allegedly for interrogation, and strangled her. Her body was found dumped in her home village. An official post-mortem carried out by a Ministry of Defence pathologist stated that Kheda Kungaeva had been anally and vaginally raped approximately one hour prior to her death.

Colonel Budanov was arrested on 30 March 2000. During the investigation he reportedly admitted killing Kheda Kungaeva, stating that he strangled her in a state of temporary insanity. He was charged with "abuse of power" and "homicide". The prosecution has ignored the evidence of rape.

Colonel Budanov has reportedly undergone several psychiatric evaluations during the course of the trial. One examination, conducted by the state-run Serbsky Institute in September 2001, supported his claim of temporary insanity. This finding means that, if convicted, he could receive a greatly reduced sentence.
Colonel Budanov’s trial began in February 2001. Colonel Budanov was the first Russian officer to be tried for crimes against civilians since the renewed conflict began in 1999.

Although Colonel Budanov has admitted killing Kheda Kungaeva, he still enjoys public and military support. For example, during the first week of Colonel Budanov’s trial, General Vladimir Shamanov came to the court to shake hands with him. This attitude is indicative of the huge obstacles victims of grave human rights violations in Chechnya and their relatives face in gaining justice.

‘... the current level of destruction suggests that Grozny has been the target of indiscriminate, disproportionate bombardment by the Russian forces.’
Lord Judd, member of the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, April 2000

The disregard for human rights and dignity, long experienced throughout the Russian Federation, has reached alarming levels in Chechnya.

The current conflict has been characterized by widespread and credible reports of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by Russian forces.

Russian security forces have been responsible for attacks on civilians, "disappearances" extrajudicial executions and torture, including rape.

One of the key factors which allows abuses to persist is the failure of the Russian authorities to bring those in its forces who are responsible for such acts to justice.

Fear is also an important factor in preventing abusers from being brought to justice. Many Chechens fear further abuses if they lodge a complaint about human rights violations committed by Russian troops. The Russian authorities have failed to take adequate steps to counter their fear.

Amnesty International is calling on the Russian authorities to fulfil their obligations to provide the victims with an effective remedy and to bring those responsible for human rights abuses to justice.

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