European Court finds Russia guilty of war crimes against Chechnya residents

The authorities of Russia are guilty of disappearance of Arthur Bersunkaev, a resident of Chechnya, in 2001 and of a heavy injury of Lipatu Umaeva in 2000. This decision was made public today by the European Court on Human Rights.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has learnt about it from Kirill Koroteyev, lawyer of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial", who has represented, together with the European Centre in Defence of Human Rights, the applicants' interests in Strasbourg.

The case "Bersunkaeva versus Russia" deals with the fact on June 13, 2001, when Russian federal troops intruded into the house of Bersunkaevs in the city of Urus-Martan and detained Arthur Bersunkaev. His neighbours had evidenced that Arthur was forced into a car. Since then, there was no news about him.

Arthur's mothers named Raissa was awarded by the Court a moral and material compensation in the sum of 35,000 euros; and 4700 euros will be collected from Russia as coverage of court expenses.

On January 23, 2000, Lipatu Umaeva got under artillery bombardment together with a column of refugees from Grozny, when the city was stormed by Russian troops. The applicant received several wounds of her right hand, both legs, hip and left patella. Earlier, the bombardment had ruined her house in the capital of Chechnya.

The Court has ruled the Government of the Russian Federation to pay out to Lipatu Umaeva the moral and material compensation in the sum of 30,000 euros, and 6836 euros as coverage of judicial and other expenses.