Rights defenders question law enforcers' version of special operation in Chechnya

It is very difficult to verify whether four natives of Ingushetia and Dagestan killed in Chechens were militants. The former cases of disinformation question the version, stated members of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 20, in the Achkhoi-Martan District, in a forest close to the village of Bamut located near the border with Ingushetia, four persons were killed in an armed clash with law enforcers. The deceased suspects are identified.

"The indication of the proximity to Ingushetia and the fact that the militants themselves were Ingush and Dagestani natives can be explained by a clear desire of the Chechen authorities. However, we cannot say if that was the case," noted Alexander Cherkasov, a member of the board for the HRC "Memorial".

He also mentioned the cases when killed "militants" had been detained, "later dressed in camouflage uniform and armed and killed somewhere."

Vladimir Malykhin, a member of the "Hot Spots" project initiated by the HRC "Memorial", mentioned another case when a killed suspected militant turned out to be a kidnapped resident of Dagestan.

The rights defender also added that relatives of two disappeared young men had appealed to the HRC "Memorial".

"Eyewitnesses reported that they had been detained by law enforcers in Dagestan. They said they were going to Ingushetia to get a job, but there was no news about them so far," added Vladimir Malykhin.