HRW expresses doubts about intention of Chechen authorities to hold fair elections

On the eve of the election of the Chechen leader, the authorities force their critics to silence. This was stated in a report released by the human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" (HRW). Human rights defenders doubt free and fair election in the republic.

Today, on August 31, the HRW has released the report " Like Walking a Minefield’: Vicious Crackdown on Critics in Russia’s Chechen Republic".

"The report is based on more than 40 interviews with victims, with relatives of those who paid the price for their critic statements, with human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and other experts. The report documents the unlawful, punitive detention of critics, including through abductions and enforced disappearances," states the release of the human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" (HRW), received by the "Caucasian Knot".

The HRW's release emphasizes that the detainees "were subjected to cruel and humiliating treatment, and they received threats of physical violence, including death threats and threats of physical violence against members of their families."

"The local authorities’ severe and sweeping crackdown seems designed to remind the Chechen public of Kadyrov’s total control and to contain the flow of any negative information from Chechnya that could undermine the Kremlin’s support for Kadyrov," the Human Rights Watch believes.

Under these conditions, according to the human rights defenders from the HRW, it is difficult to imagine that "the election in Chechnya can be free and fair."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.