Isaeva: Dagestani power agents resort to extrajudicial executions, when unable to prove detainees' guilt

This year, as compared with last one, Dagestan sees fewer kidnappings but more extrajudicial executions, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Gulnara Rustamova, co-chair of the Dagestani human rights organization "Pravozaschita" (Rights Advocacy).

She is supported by Svetlana Isaeva, the head of the organization "Mothers of Dagestan", according to whose opinion, power agencies resort to extrajudicial executions, when unable to prove the guilt of their detainees.

According to Ms Isaeva, from 2007 (when her organization was founded), every year the number of local residents who turn to human rights defenders seeking help against kidnappings was going up.

"Earlier, when a person disappeared, in some ten days relatives could find him detained by law enforcers; and almost all of these people 'turned out to be criminals', that is, during these days they were forced to confess of various crimes. Those who refused to confess disappeared without traces. Until now, nothing is known about their fate," said Isaeva.

According to human rights defenders, some of the abductees, whom power agents had forced to confess, were tried and later acquitted by the court, since it became clear that their confessions were knocked out under pressure and torture.

Gulnara Rustamova, co-chair of the Dagestani human rights organization "Pravozaschita", said that she has photos and videos proving application of torture by power agents to some of the detainees.