People are persecuted in Chechnya for their relationship to field commanders

People of Chechnya express growing anxiety regarding political persecution of persons who are disloyal to Kadirov?s administration and Russian authorities. The number of such cases has increased recently. So, on February 13, 2002 the father and the son Humaidovs were abducted by the Russian soldiers from their own house in the village of Mahketi in the Vedensk region. Their only guilt lied in the fact they were descent relatives of one field commander who had been killed before the beginning of the second Russian-Chechen military campaign. Since that time the relatives have had no information about the further destiny and location of the father and the son Humaidovs. On March 2002 Russian soldiers broke in Humaidov?s house again and abducted the daughter of the head of family Raisa. Fortunately, thanks to broad public resonance and active actions of the people from several settlements in the Vedensk region, the girl was released.  Russian special forces systematical persecute the relatives of the girl and the other members of the Humaidovs who have stayed alive.

The family of the former Vice President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Sayd-Hasan Abumuslimov, who stays abroad at present time and harshly criticizes the actions of Russian authorities in Chechnya, undergoes endless attacks form the direction of power structures.

Here is one more example when Russian soldiers broke the low: on August 6, 2002 Abumuslimova Layla Saymagomedovna and her 12-year old son Vashaev Hamzat Hanpashayevich were beaten by the Russian soldiers in the of Argun (30 Pushkin Street) during the regular ?cleaning operation?. Layla Abumuslimova?s brother-in-law Vashaev Musa Hasmagomedovich (born in 1961), who is a native of Grozny and temporarily lives in the village of Tsentaroy, imprudently stated his distrust concerning the referendum in Chechnya. That come a reason for the real hunt for Musa Vashaev, and his life runs a mortal danger.

Thus persecution and murders of peaceful citizens who are the relatives of the Opposition warriors have become the rule in today?s Chechnya. It is the opinion of the most people that the situation in the Chechen Republic reminds them the year 1937 when cruel massacres of people suspected in disloyalty towards authorities were usual.