Russia Fined $206,000 for Chechen Abductions

By Sarah Benczik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia - On September 25, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) announced in a press release that it had awarded the parents of an abducted young man, Adnan Yusupovich Akhmadov, EUR 41,650; RIA Novosti reports that the total amount awarded to relatives of Chechens killed or abducted was $206,000.

Akhmadov's parent brought his case to the ECHR following a series of failed attempts in Russian courts.  According to their story, Akhmadov was abducted on or around September 29, 2002.  The ECHR found that a large group of armed men in uniform conducting a Russian security mission in Urus-Martan apprehended Akhmadov, and that domestic authorities failed to carry out an effective investigation. 

According to RIA Novisti, the second case before the ECHR involved Ruslan Medzhidov, who accused Russian authorities of being guilty of the death of his parents, brother and two sisters when Russian forces shelled their village in 1999.

Russia denied involvement in either occurrence.

Roughly 20% of the cases that have come before the ECHR are of Russian origin; most involve prisoner abuses and abductions.  As Russian violations of human rights laws continue to receive attention and criticism from European powers, Lidiya Yusupova, a Chechen human rights lawyer, is rumored to be among the leading contenders for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize. 

For more information, please see:

AFP - Nobel Peace Prize could go to human rights fight in China, Russia - 3 October 2008

European Court of Human Rights - Press Release - 25 September 2008

RIA Novosti - Strasbourg court fines Russia $206,000 over Chechnya deaths - 25 September 2008

Russian Justice Initiative - European Court of Human Rights Comdemns Russia in Three Disapearance Cases from Chechnya and Ingushetia - 2 October 2008