Commander recognizes army's participation in kidnappingsBy Ruslan Isayev
URUS-MARTAN, Chechnya - A fortnight ago the relatives of kidnap victims met with Aleksandr Kayak, military commander of the Urus-Martanovsky district, in the district administration offices.
The relatives blame the disappearances on the military. As reported by an employee of the human rights organization Memorial, who was present at the meeting, the commander implied that the crimes had been committed by soldiers.
"The victims were subjected to torture, and some did not survive. Then the military found out that they were innocent. But what soldier is going to confess to an illegal killing?”
Aleksandr Kayak then added that this information was not to be made public, which caused some participants to leave the meeting in protest.
Isa Khutsayev, the father of two abducted sons, believes that authorities are ignoring them and are not trying to help in their search. "They openly show their unwillingness to help in finding people. The meeting and the commander’s words confirm this".
Meanwhile, the kidnappings continue. Only two days before the meeting, local resident Islam Mamatsuyev was kidnapped in Urus-Martan.
His body was discovered after several days near a cemetery on the outskirts of Urus-Martan.
Translated by Mindaugas Kojelis.
(MK/E,T)
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