ECtHR accepts complaint of former head of HRC "Memorial" and journalists about their kidnapping in Ingushetia

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) accepted for consideration the complaint, filed by Oleg Orlov, the former head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", and three journalists from the "REN" TV Channel against actions of power agents with regard to them in November 2007 in Ingushetia, on the eve of a rally of republic's residents against the arbitrariness of power agents. The ECtHR court has sent Russia the questions on the merits of the complaint.

In the evening of November 23, 2007, the human rights defender and journalists were beaten and kidnapped from the "Assa" Hotel in Nazran on the eve of the planned protest action, caused by the death of a 6-year-old boy, who was killed during the special operation, held on November 9, in the village of Chemulga of the Sunzha District of Ingushetia.

In their complaint, filed to the ECtHR, the complainants refer to violation of Article 3 (prohibition of torture), Article 5 (right to liberty and security of person), and Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and to violation of Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the Convention (protection of property). The ECtHR accepted the complaint for consideration and sent Russia the questions on the merits. This was reported by the statement, posted on the website of the ECtHR.