Prev Discussion Next Discussion Send Replies to My Inbox Reply
Recommend Message 1 of 1 in Discussion From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 6/21/2007 11:57 AM Thursday, June 21, 2007
Russia Ruled Responsible For Killings Of Four Chechens
EU/Strasbourg - An outside view of the European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg, 6 Nov. 2003. The European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg (epa) June 21, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Russian forces were responsible for the killings of four members of a Chechen family in 2003.
Zura Bitiyeva, a political activist and antiwar protester, and three members of her family were shot in the head at night by Russian-speaking masked men who the court concluded were members of the Russian special forces.
The court ordered Moscow to pay Bitiyeva's daughter, a plaintiff in the case who currently lives in Germany, a sum equivalent to $114,000.
Unconventional Treatment
The ruling was based on the court's unanimous finding that Russia was responsible for five violations of four articles of the European Convention on Human rights. Three of the violations related to the 2003 killings, and two related to Bitiyeva's treatment while under detention in 2000.
Bitiyeva, her husband Ramzan Iduyev, their son Idris Iduyev, and her brother Abubakar Bitiyev were all killed at their home in the town of Kalinovskaya.
The court heard statements from eyewitnesses attesting that 11 men entered Bitiyeva's home in the early morning of May 21, 2003, while other armed men gathered outside.
All were said to have worn camouflage uniforms "recognized as the special forces uniform," according to a court statement citing an eyewitness account. Six or seven shots were heard and upon entering the home one eyewitness discovered the bodies "with their hands and feet taped together, all shot in the heads."
State Held Responsible
The perpetrators of the crime have never been identified, but the court determined Russia was responsible due to the descriptions of the killers, the vehicles they used, and the fact that they were able to travel with a special permit during curfew hours.
Russia has three months to appeal the court's finding. The Strasbourg-based court currently has dozens of similar cases pending.
Acknowledgement: All available information and documents in "Justice For North Caucasus Group" is provided for the "fair use". There should be no intention for ill-usage of any sort of any published item for commercial purposes and in any way or form. JFNC is a nonprofit group and has no intentions for the distribution of information for commercial or advantageous gain. At the same time consideration is ascertained that all different visions, beliefs, presentations and opinions will be presented to visitors and readers of all message boards of this site. Providing, furnishing, posting and publishing the information of all sources is considered a right to freedom of opinion, speech, expression, and information while at the same time does not necessarily reflect, represent, constitute, or comprise the stand or the opinion of this group. If you have any concerns contact us directly at:
eagle@JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com