Russian Federation

233. During the period under review, the Working Group transmitted to the Government of the Russian Federation 11 new cases, of which 10 reportedly occurred in 2002; 2 cases were sent under the urgent action procedure. Regarding the cases transmitted after 15 September 2002; in accordance with its methods of work, it must be understood that the Government could not respond prior to the adoption of the present report.

234. The majority of the 212 cases reported in the past concern persons of ethnic Ingush origin who allegedly disappeared in 1992, in the context of the fighting between ethnic Ossetians and the Ingush. A large number of other cases are reported to have occurred in Chechnya, the majority in late 1994 and early 1995. The Russian military forces were allegedly responsible.

235. The newly reported cases occurred in Chechnya, nine in Tsotsyn-Yut, Kurchaloy District, one in Novye Atagi, Shalinsky District, and another in Zakan-Yurt, Achkoi Martanovsky District. The Russian Army was allegedly responsible for all these cases,

which concern the nephew of the Head of the Human Rights Center (HRC) “Memorial”, Grozny Office; an engineer whose son had also disappeared in December 2000 following his detention by federal troops; 7 other persons who were among a group of around 100 persons who were allegedly abducted; another person who was allegedly arrested at the local Temporary Department of Internal Affairs where he had gone to inquire about his brother’s whereabouts; and a person who was allegedly arrested at a hospital.

236. In the past, the Working Group clarified one case on the basis of information provided by the source. No new information was received from the Government with regard to 220 outstanding cases. The Working Group is therefore unable to report on the fate and whereabouts of the persons concerned.

Observations

237. The Working Group remains deeply concerned that only 1 of the more than 200 cases reported to it has been clarified. In this connection, it would like to remind the Government that all persons deprived of liberty shall be held in an officially recognized place of detention and have prompt access to family members, legal counsel and judicial authorities, in accordance with articles 9 and 10 of the Declaration. In addition, the Government has an obligation, under articles 13 and 14, to carry out prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into alleged cases of enforced disappearance and to bring the perpetrators to justice.