Seven persons were kidnapped in a special operation in Chechnya, rights defenders say

The statement of the HRC "Memorial" says that on September 24, 2010, agents of local law enforcement bodies kidnapped seven residents of Davydenko village, Achkhoi-Martan District of Chechnya.

According to eyewitnesses, on September 24, at about 5:00 a.m. over 100 employees of law enforcement bodies in 20 cars drove into Davydenko and split into several groups. Almost simultaneously they kidnapped five persons: Rasul Khalimovich Madaev, born in 1985, Isa Saidtselimovich Khabaev, born in 1986, his brother Moussa Saidtselimovich Khabaev, born in 1992, Rakhman Imranovich Maltsagov, born in 1985, and Mahmoud Rashidovich Salikhov, born in 1980 (invalid from childhood).

According to the "Memorial", everywhere power agents acted under the same scenario - they broke into the house, and without presenting themselves took the man away. Relatives were not informed about where the detained person would be delivered, but they were promised that he would be released after checking documents or asked a few questions.

On September 24, at 6:00 p.m. power agents released Madaev, Moussa Khabaev, Salikhov and Rakhman Maltsagov. At 9:00 p.m. they released Aslan Khabaev and Abdullah Maltsagov. Adam Yusupov and Isa Khabaev were also kept at the Achkhoi-Martan ROVD, but they were not released. Isa Khbaev's sister could see him; according to her story, he was in terrible condition: with signs of torture on his body.

On September 25, at about 9:00 p.m., power agents again took away Rasul Madaev and Abdullah Maltsagov.

In the morning on September 26, 2010, relatives of the kidnapped persons gathered about the Achkhoi-Martan ROVD. They stood there for the whole day, but nobody from the ROVD bosses went out to talk to them. Their lawyer was not let in.

On the same day, relatives of the detainees addressed, with the help of the employee of the HRC "Memorial", the Investigatory Department (ID) for Chechnya of the Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutors Office (ICPO) of the Russian Federation, the Achkhoi-Martan Inter-District Investigatory Division of the ID for Chechnya of the ICPO, the prosecutor's office of the Achkhoi-Martan District and the Prosecutor's Office of the Chechen Republic. They filed applications on illegal actions of the Achkhoi-Martan ROVD to all these instances.

They were told at the Inter-District Investigatory Division that the cases of Yusupov and Khabaev had arrived to them. The men were charged under Article 208 (organization of an illegal armed formation or participation in it) and Article 317 (encroachment on the life of a law enforcer) of the Criminal Code. Parents of all the detainees have hired advocates. As of September 27, the advocate was admitted only to Adam Yusupov. On that very day relatives were admitted to see Maltsagov and Madaev.