19:08, 20 January 2006

People continue to disappear in Kabardino-Balkaria

Another resident of the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, Zaur Pshigotyzhev, has gone missing, Caucasian Knot's correspondent has learnt from unofficial sources. Zaur Pshigotyzhev worked as a private taxi driver and seven days ago he did not come home, according to the source. His car was found in the forest near the Sosruko Mountain and he has not come back to date and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Zaur Pshigotyzhev is also known to have earlier been detained on suspicion of being involved in the 13 October 2005 events in Nalchik. However, he was released after giving a written undertaking not to leave, as the investigation failed to find evidence of his involvement.

No criminal case has been opened with regard to the disappearance of Zaur Pshigotyzhev and no one is searching for him, according to Zaur's parents.

Local observes say, with concerns, that the "process has begun" in Kabardino-Balkaria, the same process as in Chechnya: abductions and enforced disappearances without trace.

Removed prisoner lost again

Author: Lyudmila Maratova, CK correspondent