Who stands behind abduction of schoolboys?

Three schoolboys abducted from the mountain village of Dyshni-Vedeno, Chechnya's Vedeno district, returned home on May 15. The "release" of the teenagers went according to the "classic" plan used in such cases, officers of the Chechen Interior Ministry said. The abductors drove the blindfold boys to the outskirts of the settlement and just threw them out of the car. "The victims, Kulumov, Azgiev, and Gaziev, can't say where there were held for two days and who exactly abducted them. The abductors spoke both Russian and Chechen, one boy said. They demanded that the boys indicate who is a rebel in their village and asked other questions. They beat the teenagers and threatened to kill them. The boys are still in state of shock," a Chechen police officer said.

An investigation into the case is underway. Meanwhile, residents of Dyshni-Vedeno are convinced the abductors will never be found. "Such attacks against civilians are committed by both the Russian military and officers of local security agencies. There has hardly been a case when the culprits were found. The released teenagers and their relatives will not tell the whole truth anyway as they fear of possible consequences. And our police don't show special zeal investigating such cases," Magomed, a 47-year-old resident of the Vedeno district, said.

Editors note: See also the article "Abducted schoolboys released in Chechnya".