07 May 2007, 22:37
Human rights defenders state a sharp reduction of kidnappings in Chechnya
A radical reduction in the number of kidnappings and massive non-targeted utilization of federal funds are the basic tendencies of modern Checnya's development. Oleg Orlov, one of the leaders of the Human Rights Society "Memorial," has expressed this idea when making his comments on the open letter of representatives of the western community to President Putin asking to restore "peace and justice" in the Republic.
"Until now, this sort of news (on reduction of kidnappings, - ed.) were strongly exaggerated by the authorities, but this time it is a fact. We, at least, are marking the trend," the "Echo Moskvy" Radio quotes the human rights activist.
In Mr. Orlov's opinion, the drop of kidnapping cases is a result of "Ramzan Kadyrov's personal order to the militants under his control given back in January."
The "Caucasian Knot" has informed earlier that more than a hundred representatives of political and cultural elite of Great Britain had written an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a call on him to use his last year in power for restoration of "peace and justice" in Chechnya.
