Five people were arrested in SamashkiRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus - Five inhabitants of the village of Samashki were arrested by Russian forces on Sunday, September 1. According to witnesses, a military helicopter arrived in the early morning, Russian servicemen jumped out of it and immediately started searching at houses and forcing out people that were still half asleep.
A total of five people were arrested: two Amayevs (the uncle and brother-in-law), two Makhomayevs brothers and Ibragim Murtazaliyev. All attempts of relatives to hinder the illegal arrest were harshly stopped by the soldiers. An elderly mother and father of one of the arrested were beaten up.
Next day, Zaydin Makhomayev, one of the arrested, returned home. Or to put it correctly: he was transported to the village by people who occasionally came across him. According to witnesses, he could not walk on his own as his body bore clear evidence of extensive torture. He had a deep cut on his throat, probably a result of a knife stick.
According to Mr. Makhomayev, the arrested were held in the territory of Khankala, the Russian main military base in Grozny. The other arrested from the Samashki village remain imprisoned at the base. Relatives to the arrested have not received any information or an official explanation why these people had been arrested.
Beside these people, another six men from Samashki are reported missing. They were arrested several months ago by Russian soldiers. The majority of Samashki inhabitants believe that those people are not alive any longer.
Arrests are not the only problem of the inhabitants of Samashki. People face also the threat of increased shelling and bombardment the Russian air force conducts in the outskirts of village. So far, shells and bombs have not caused any serious damage. Still, the people of Samashki fear that pilots might at some point hit the wrong aim and cause civilian casualties.
(K/A,T) |
