Russian paper alleges summary executions in Chechnya
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 9 July 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian paper alleges summary executions in Chechnya, 9 July 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59818e3910.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 09, 2017 08:26 GMT
By RFE/RL's Russian Service
Security forces controlled by the Kremlin-installed Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured), have been accused of gross human-rights abuses for many years. (file photo)
Russia's Novaya Gazeta newspaper, citing two unidentified sources, has reported that security forces in Chechnya summarily executed 27 people on the night of January 26.
The paper reported on July 9 that the purported victims were detained in regions across the North Caucasus republic during a series of raids that began in mid-December 2016.
According to the report, the detainees were never formally arrested and no paperwork was filled out on them before they were summarily executed.
A source within the Interior Ministry reportedly provided the newspaper with the names of the victims and the journalists were unable to locate any of them.
"All attempts to learn anything about these people were met with incredible fear from everyone we questioned," the newspaper wrote.
In April, Novaya Gazeta reported that dozens of homosexual men had been rounded up, imprisoned, and abused in Chechnya.
Security forces controlled by Kremlin-installed Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov have been accused of gross human-rights abuses for many years, including abductions, torture, and killings.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
