APPENDICES Appendix 1
Notably, most of the people whose reports are being analysed below were proved not guilty — they were released after investigation. Nevertheless, at least some of them have suffered moral and physical damage.
Most testimonies fall in two groups: reports about detentions in January — early February 1995 and reports of those detained in early April in Samashki. Apparently, it was during these periods that detentions assumed mass scale and detainees were most brutally abused.
According to the reports, what can be classified as torture was always done by people in masks.
Torture with electric current is similarly described by all victims: a small generator is used; to produce current one has to twirl a handle.
None of the FC staff or investigators has introduced himself to the detainees. The only exceptions are Mozdok FC chief militia Lt.Col. V.N.Samarin, and later — militia Maj. A.P.Petrov who used to sign documents given to detainees to the effect that the latter «were being kept in Mozdok FC for identity check up». The first known such case took place only on January 31, 1995 (see: Appendix 2). Before that the detainees upon release were given no certificate at all concerning the fact and reazon of their detention.
Practically none of the detainees’ relatives could get any information about them before they were released. In fact, after detention the person disappeared.
Reports relating to the first half of January described how detainees from Grozny were transported in trucks or APCs. The whole way took several hours. People lay one under another with hands tied behind their backs. Sometimes, an OMON soldier was sitting over them. As a result, people suffocated and some of them arrived dead. It is not possible to confirm or refute these reports.
Most detainees complain about scarce food (mainly dry bread) and, especially, water.
Reports of FC detainees dating back to january-march, 1995
The following reports were obtained from various sources and are arranged in chronological order, according to dates of detention.
1. Ali Batashevich ISRAILOV
(Interview taken by Human Rights NGO Observer Mission members; recorded by A.Blinushov, Memorial, in Sernovodsk, on 7.4.95)
Israilov, residing in Sernovodsk, was taking his sister out of Grozny by car on December 25, 1994. His car was suddenly fired on near the village of Dolinska, no one was injured. Shortly thereafter, the car was stopped by Russian soldiers. Answering why he had not stopped at the checkpoint before he said that there had not been any. Israilov was detained, beaten and taken to Mozdok FC in a prison car. On the way he was again beaten by the guards.
He was repeatedly beaten at FC by the staff in the presence of people in uniform with Major and Colonel shoulder stripes. There were not many detainees at FC: only four in the carriage.
The interrogations were carried out by a relatively polite investigator. He asked if Israilov had taken part in fighting, if he knew any fighters, etc.
After three days Israilov was released; he signed no grievance statement. He was not given any certificate concerning his stay at FC.
According to Israilov, after the beatings he had to undergo medical treatment for six weeks.
2. Azamat Paragulgov and Movsar KHAMIDOV1
(Interview taken by RHRCG; recorded by O.P.Orlov, member of the HRC Memorial Council, in the presence of the Russian Human Right Commissioner S.A.Kovalev in Nazran on January 152)
Paragulgov, an Ingush born in 1957, lived in Grozny at 32 Pervomaiskaya St.
Khamidov, an Ingush, is an official for Russian Federal Security Service Department for the Ingush Republic. He lived in Grozny at 27 Tatarskaya St.
They had been in Grozny to take relatives and belongings out of the city but, having been caught in the assault, were hiding in the cellar of their neighbour Aslan Nanahaev’s house at 30 Tatarskaya St. They were detained there on January 1 as «artillery spotters». They were beaten and misterated; among other things, the soldiers tied Paragulgov to a tree during mortar fire.
Nanahaev was taken by the soldiers; nothing was known about his whereabouts at the time of interview.3
On January 2, Paragulgov and Khamidov were brought to the cannery to the HQ of the Russian forces in Grozny. They were beaten and abused again, especially Khamidov. One of the generals at the HQ took part in the beatings. They were repeatedly threatened with being shot by firing squad. Though Khamidov had produced his FSS identity card they were still being accused of spotting Chechen fire.
That same day Paragulgov and Khamidov were brought to FC in Mozdok. They were beaten upon arrival. During subsequent interrogation Khamidov was beaten again. They saw how other detainees were beaten and abused.
On January 5 Paragulgov and Khamidov were released.
According to Paragulgov, among other detainees at FC there were:
1. Hasan Khamidov (from the village of Terskoe). At the FC they cut his feet with bayonet knife and burned him with cigarette butts;
2. Ruslan Hajiev, a bank officer from Grozny, was heavily beaten at FC during interrogations;
3. Iusup Mudaev, a security guard from the cannery.
Authors of the report have a copy of the statement presented by Khamidov to his superiors concerning the above mentioned incident.
3. Zakrail Sharipovich VAIRAEV
(Interview in Nazran, February 28, 1995. Provided by D.Bernstain — Freedom House)
Vairaev, born in 1968, came to Grozny to visit his sister. On January 1 he was returning home to a suburban area. He was detained by Russian soldiers near the cannery. They explained nothing, just beat and detained him. He was kept at the cannery for two days, then he was taken to Mozdok.
Sixty-three people were transported in one truck. On the way two people suffocated, six were shot. Their bodies travelled to Mozdok with other detainees. They were constantly beaten. Upon arrival to Mozdok Vairaev found neither his documents nor money. They were beaten again.
Then they were taken to Pyatigorsk. At the PDF beatings continued. All detainees from Mozdok were accused of being Dudaev fighters. Then they were transferred to the Stavropol prison, seven days later brought back to Pyatigorsk, then to Mozdok.
In Mozdok they were put into prison carriages. Vairaev started coughing heavily. He had suffered from pleuritis in 1992. As it turned out later, he had got his chest broken with resulting tuberculosis. He was transferred to a solitary cell in the same carriage. He was taken for X-ray only 8 days later; after the X-ray he was taken to a hospital in Nazran. At the time of the interview neither his mother nor sister knew his whereabouts.
4. An FC detainee’s wife
(Interview taken by E.Burtina — Civil Assistance Committee on March 22, 1995, in a temporary refugee center in Krasnoarmeisk. The witness preferred to remain anonymous; authors of the report, however, have the name on record.)
On December 31, 1994, the witness with her mother and husband hid from the shooting in a cellar. Soon Russian forces gained control over the area (around the cannery). Women were told to go and men were detained. The witness turned to Russian forces pleading to release her husband because he had done nothing wrong. On January 5, however, she was told that her husband had been taken to Mozdok and would be subsequently released.
On January 9, she, along with her mother and other refugees, left Grozny in military trucks. From a temporary refugee center in the Saratov region the witness went to Mozdok in search of her husband. She was told there that the detainees were taken to Pyatigorsk. In Pyatigorsk she was told that they were taken to Stavropol. She turned to the PDF in Stavropol but they refused to give out any information. It was only with the help of a Stavropolskaya Pravda correspondent that she managed to find out that he was among 23 detainees and had been transported to Grozny to be exchanged for POWs. In February, her husband along with other detainees was exchanged for Russian POWs at Dagestani border.
Her husband told her that in Mozdok, Pyatigorsk and Stavropol he was constantly beaten.
While being taken from Grozny to Mozdok people were laid in the truck in several layers; some of them suffocated. One detainee died in Pyatigorsk PDF cell due to heart failure.
The witness’s husband is currently residing at his parents’ in a Dagestani village and is unable to leave: he has no documents since what had been confiscated during detention was not given back when he was taken for exchange.
5. Issa Nazhaevich MATAEV
(Interview taken by RHRCG. Recorded by A.N.Mironov in the village of Goity, south of Grozny, in mid-January, 1995.)
Mataev, a 41-year-old Chechen driver, lived in Grozny near the cannery. On January 2, he was detained in a cellar where civillians took shelter from the shooting. All the men from the cellar, about 30 people, were taken to Mozdok FC. Mataev witnessed how detainees died during transportation by trucks from Grozny to Mozdok: some were shot by the guards, others, who were lying at the very bottom, suffocated.
In spite of having documents with him Mataev was told that he was detained for vagrancy. During his stay at FC cells were overcrowded, each housing 12-14 detainees.
He was released on January 11.
6. Magomed MEIDIEV
(Interview provided by D.Bernstain — Freedom House.)
Meidiev, born in 1978, was detained in a cellar by Russian soldiers on January 3. They brought him to the cannery and started beating him, demanding that he should confess being a Dudaev fighter. They cited Dudaev units numbers and insisted that he belonged to them. Then he was taken to Mozdok — everything was repeated. Then he was taken to Pyatigorsk. In Pyatigorsk PDF he was beaten and set upon by dogs. Then he was transferred to the Stavropol PDF. There he had to undergo some sort of lie detector test. On January 15 he was brought back to Mozdok and released. No explanations, no apologies.
7. Ferzauli TERMAEV
(Interview provided by D.Bernstain — Freedom House.)
On January 7, Termaev, who lived in Sernovodsk, drove in his car to Grozny to pick up his belongings. He took the TV, VCR, his wife and child’s things. On the way back his car was stopped by Russian interior troops soldiers at the Assinovskaya crossing. They looked into the car, saw the things, ordered him out and searched. They found some money and confiscated it. He witnessed how they stopped another car — NIVA. There were three people carrying money: they were going to buy flour. They were also detained and the money was confiscated.
Termaev was taken to the Vladikavkaz reception center. There they took his pictures en profile and en face and held him for 10 days. They beat him, abused him and set dogs on him. On January 17, he was released with a certificate of detention for 10 days; no one bothered to explain grounds for the detention.
He was also given his car back but without spares, rear windows and things that had been inside. Termaev tried to get a certificate that the things had disappeared during his detention in Vladikavkaz reception center. But he was only told, «Get away while you are still alive.»
8. Salimhan Sultanovich TEMURZIEV
(Materials were provided by Ingush Republic Procuracy: certificate dated 5.3.95, forensic reports.)
Temurziev, an Ingush, born in 1963, was living in Grozny at 115 Zakrevskogo St. On January 9 he was detained by Russian soldiers in Gorskaya St. near his house. There were no grounds for detention. He was brought to the cannery where a Russian unit HQ was located. There he was tied to a pole. Passing soldiers beat him, cut him with knives, and burned him with cigarette butts. Then along with other detainees he was taken to Mozdok FC. FC staff, mostly wearing masks, systematically beat them with clubs, and kicked and punched them.
This was done to force out a confession that Temurziev had been fighting on Dudaev’s side.
He was released due to lack of any established guilt.
Resulting injuries are documented in forensic reports.
9. Anonymous witness
(Interview taken by RHRCG)
The witness, a Chechen residing in Leninski district of Grozny, was detained at home in the RTS settlement «for identification» on January 9. Four detainees were taken to a dairy plant in an APC. There they were placed in the bathroom; there were already three people there.
Twenty-four hours later, with eyes bandaged they were taken in a KAMAZ truck to Mozdok; 18 people were lying in the truck one under another. They were placed into a prison carriage: 17 people in a cell, handcuffed, no water. The guards beat them and took their belongings. During the interrogations they had their fingers pressed with pliers.
Then they were transferred to Pyatigorsk; there were 38 people from the cannery in Grozny in the cell on January 15.
Then they were transferred to the Stavropol PDF. Seventy-two people from Chechnya were kept there, including an Ingushetian correspondent Urugchiev. At the Stavropol PDF they were beaten both during interrogations and at walk. Ruslan Hajiev was in the medical treatment room, heavily beaten, and lost his sight.
10. Chingizkhan Uveisovich AMIRKHANOV
(Interview taken by RHRCG, recorded by S.V.Sirotkin, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Human Rights Commission, and O.P.Orlov, HRC Memorial Council member, in Sleptsovskaya on January 19.)
Amirkhanov, an Ingush, director of Ingushvodstroi state enterprise in Sleptsovskaya (Ingushetia), is currently residing in Sleptsovskaya at 81 Lenina St.
According to Amirkhanov, before the beginning of fighting in Grozny he lived in the city in a block of flats at 43 Bogdana Khmelnitskogo, apt.7. By the end of December 1994, he had evacuated his family from Grozny to Ingushetia. In the evening of December 30, he drove into Grozny to pick up his elder brother’s family but was unable to leave the city on January 31 because of the fighting. He stayed with his neighbours in their house until January 9, when he was detained by uniformed people who came to search the house, beaten and taken to Mozdok FC.
During 24-hour interrogations there, which were accompanied by heavy beatings, they demanded that he confess to being a member of illegal armed formations. Amirkhanov refused. During the next interrogation he was not beaten, they put details of his story on record, let him sign and promised to check everything. Nevertheless, the guards continued to beat Amirkhanov regularly in the prison car.
On January 16, Amirkhanov was released since his testimony had been confirmed after checkup.
On January 19, when Amirkhanov was interviewed by Sirotkin and Orlov, the right side of his face was black and blue, his nose was broken, body and legs covered with bruises; there were also bruises on his wrists from handcuffs. X-ray examination showed multiple rib fractures, nose fractures and an injury to the lower back.
Among other detainees at FC Amirkhanov could recall:
1. Salimhan Sultanovich Temurziev, an Ingush; lived in a private house near Amirkhanov in Grozny in Perepisnaya St. Was detained by Russian soldiers in the street near his house on January 9;
2. Magomed Ugurchiev, Amirkhanov’s neighbour. He stayed in the cellar and was therefore detained later. He was taken somewhere, Amirkhanov did not see him after;
3. Three Engenoev brothers.
11. ENGENOEV brothers: Albert, Rezvon and Mairbek.
Issa BATYEV
(Based on press reports.)
L.Leontieva reported in the article Filtration GULAG4 (Moscow News, No 11, February 12-19, 1995) that
Engenoev brothers (Albert, Rezvon and Mairbek) were detained at a Russian checkpoint near Ischerskaya and beaten by drunk soldiers. Then they were taken to Mozdok FC; people in masks were interrogating them and beat them several times a day. They demanded that the brothers should confess to being artillery spotters or fighters. Mairbek had his kidneys injured. Their release was secured by their father, who had by chance learned that their car was driven by drunk soldiers in Mozdok. He came to FC and demanded their return.
Issa Batyev, a member of the Ingush Parliament, was detained during a round-up operation in his house in Grozny and taken to Mozdok FC. He was beaten and tortured there. He was released only following personal interference by the Provisional Council Head U.Avturkhanov.
The events reported in the article took place in January.
12. Ibragim Maksharipovich UGURCHIEV
(Interview taken by RHRCG. Recorded in Nazran by State Duma member Iu.Rybakov on February 13, 1995.)
Ugurchiev, born in 1960, senior editor of the Ingush Republic newspaper Serdalo, was living in Grozny at 19 Bogdana Khmelnitskogo St.
On January 12, he took a passing car out of Grozny; he had all his cash with him. He was detained at a Russian checkpoint near Sernovodskaya; his audiotapes were used as a pretext. Tapes and recorder were confiscated.
Ugurchiev was brought to Mozdok where he was kept in FC carriages. FC staff confiscated his rouble and dollar cash, golden watch, golden ring and leather jacket. Along with other detainees he was periodically beaten (every two hours).
After about three days (he did not remember exactly) along with a large group of detainees Ugurchiev was transported to the Pyatigorsk PDF. On the way the detainees were heavily beaten all the time. The guards set their dog on Ugurchiev and he was bitten.
Ugurchiev spent two days in Pyatigorsk PDF; then with a group of detainees he was transported to the Stavropol PDF. In Stavropol the detainees from Chechnya (over 100 people) were initially placed in one large cell. It was there that he was interrogated for the first time.
Ugurchiev’s detention provoked wide response, primarily among journalists. On January 27, Moscow News correspondent L.Leontieva managed to visit him in the Stavropol PDF; as a result, Ugurchiev that same day was brought to the Stavropol regional MVD chief Gen. Medveditsky and released. He was given no explanation either about his detention or hasty release.
Because detainees from Chechnya, including Ugurchiev, were held in the Stavropol PDF in violation of law and without proper procedural documents, the Stavropol Procuracy has initiated an investigation into illegal actions of the MVD officials.
Among other detainees in the Stavropol PDF Ugurchiev could recall:
1. Ruslan Hajiev, 21-23-year-old bank officer from Grozny who lost his sight after he had been beaten with a club over his head;
2. Anatoly Nikolaevich Kashin, residing in the village of Martino, Volodarsky district, Astrakhan region.
Urugchiev’s injuries resulting from the beatings were documented during forensic examination on February 1, 1995.
13. Magomed BUTSAEV
(Interview taken in Khasavyurt in Dagestan by O.I.Cherepova — Memorial during a joint HRC Memorial-Human Rights Watch/Helsinki fact-finding mission on 23.4.95.)
Butsaev, born in 1951, was living in Chervlenaya, at 5 Iuzhnaya St.
Chervlenaya is situated in the north of Chechnya, the region that was occupied by federal forces during the first days of the conflict.
Butsaev worked as a senior instructor in a railways civilian guard unit. From December 10, 1994 to January 10, 1995 he was commander at one of the unarmed (according to him) posts set up by the villagers to prevent Russian forces from entering the village. The villagers voluntarily disarmed on January 10.
On January 14, Butsaev was detained at home by Russian soldiers wearing masks. In reply to the question why did they enter the house they replied, «We have every right, and you don’t». After the search (nothing illegal was found) the soldiers took Butsaev with them. They also detained his neighbours:
Ruslan Serbeev;
Salman Tselikov, 42-year-old, deaf;
Katash, 37-year-old ambulance driver.
According to Butsaev, he was detained because of the villagers’ reports about his disloyal statements regarding Russian authorities, his threats towards Russians and possession of weapons. He was charged with not surrendering in his service pistol (he claimed that he had given it in Gudermes, though it was impossible to check this since Gudermes was still under Chechen control), setting up an armed post, informing Gudermes about Russian troop movements via railway telegraph.
The detainees were taken to a nearby federal forces’ base and placed into prison cars. They were beaten. Other villagers from Chervlenaya were brought there by night:
Yahya Beisultanov
Wahid Magomadov
Aslan Ginaev
Subyar Daudov
Ali Chadyev (Chervlenaya military administration chief)
Tolsultanov brothers: Ramzan and Beslan
Khalazhi Gabarov (suffering from epilepsy)
Pasha, teenage refugee from Grozny, son of Radziat Iliasova
All were beaten upon arrival.
During the day on January 15 and 16, the detainees were made to stand motionless on their knees in the open, hands tied behind their back; they were cursed and humiliated all the time, those who moved were beaten. Butsaev had two ribs broken by a kick (as proved later by X-ray). In addition, they were threatened with death by being laid in a hole: they threatened to bury the detainees alive. However, according to Butsaev, one of the guard shift commanders (a soldier called Sergei) treated the detainees well: gave them cigarettes, tea, helped them to get up and made them move — some people had their hands and feet paralyzed after many hours of motionless staying on the knees.
Detainees were taken for interrogation one by one.
On January 16, a group of detainees was transported to Mozdok by helicopter. People were laid in three layers one under another. Those who tried to move were beaten.
Upon arrival to Mozdok airport Ali Chadyev was heavily beaten because the guards said he was a Dudaev special force commander.
The detainees were placed at FC in prison carriages. They were fed with dry bread and given little food.
The guards beat the detainees every time they were taken to the toilet. They were given 6-10 seconds.
On January 18, Butsaev was interrogated by people in masks: they demanded that he should confess to having fought on Dudaev’s side; during the interrogation he was tortured with electric current.
Next day MVD investigators appeared; they were interrogating politely, without beating.
On January 24, Butsaev and all other detainees from Chervlenaya were released (except Ginaev). Ginaev was released two days later. No one was given a certificate of detention at FC. All released detainees had bruises, some had their ribs broken (for example, Beisultanov and Butsaev).
On January 27, Butsaev left Chervlenaya to undergo medical treatment in Dagestan.
14. Magomed-Rashid Akhmetovich PLIEV
(Interview taken by RHRCG; recorded by L.A. Aleinik in Nazran Central Republican Hospital in the presence of Chief Forensic Expert Rashid Aushev on 8.2.95.)
Pliev, an Ingush journalist, was living in Grozny at 21, 2nd Gorsky Per. He was detained in the street near his house on January 17. Although he produced his documents, he was taken to the cannery where he was held for 36 hours in harsh conditions along with 13 other detainees. On January 19 the detainees were transported by trucks to Mozdok FC.
Upon arrival to Mozdok they were beaten. Beatings continued later, for example, when detainees were taken to the toilet. The guards also deliberately took them out to the corridor where they were beaten with clubs, rifle butts, hands and feet. Moreover, Pliev was tortured with electric current to force out a confession of being a fighter. Pliev refused. During the interrogations that followed investigators were polite and did not resort to beating.
On January 22-23 (he doesn’t remember exactly) Pliev along with a group of detainees was taken by helicopter to Khasavyurt to be exchanged for Russian POWs, but at that time the exchange failed to occur.
On January 24, Pliev was released for lack of guilt and brought to Ingushetia.
15. Wahid Mikhailovich TSOMAEV
(Interview taken by RHRCG; recorded by L.A. Aleinik in Nesterovskaya on 8.2.95.)
Tsomaev, born in 1974, was detained for not having documents on January 18 in Assinovskaya where he had fled from Grozny to wait for the war to end. Along with other detainees he was brought by helicopter to Mozdok area; they were constantly beaten on the way.
Tsomaev was repeatedly beaten at the FC, hung by handcuffs, threatened by shooting and several times tortured with electric current. However, in the course of subsequent interrogations he was not beaten any more. Investigators tried to prove that he was in fact I.Ts.Tsomaev, but the records were done correctly.
Six days after the last interrogation (January 26), Tsomaev along with a group of other detainees was taken by helicopter to Khasavyurt in Dagestan. They were exchanged for Russian POWs.
According to Tsomaev, there were heavily injured people among the detainees (resulting from beatings and torture) and less injured people were selected for the exchange.
Among other detainees at FC Tsomaev could recall only Magomed Pliev.
16. KAURGASHVILI brothers, Ruslan JAMALKHANOV
(According to press reports.)
A journalist, A.Fadin, reported in his article «This war will be inherited» (Obschaya Gazeta, 16-22.1.95) that he had met several people in Shali (Chechen Republic) who were exchanged for Russian POWs on January 26.
The Kaurgashvili brothers, 19 and 22 years old, were detained in their house in Assinovskaya on January 19. They were taken to FC and beaten. One had two ribs broken, both had their kidneys injured, their hands and feet were black and blue and they had dark red scars on their backs.
Ruslan Jamalkhanov, 19 years. He was detained in Grozny on January 16 while trying to buy bread and taken to Mozdok FC. He was beaten regularly and tortured with electric current. They demanded that he confess to being a fighter and tell where weapons were kept.
17. Hasan CHITAEV
(According to press reports.)
Moskovski Komsomolets journalists A.Kolpakov and Iu.Kalinina reported that (Fighters and Peacekeepers, MK, 7.2.95)
52-year-old Chitaev was detained in his house in Assinovskaya, beaten and brought to Mozdok FC by helicopter. His watch, money and leather jacket were confiscated. He was systematically and heavily beaten during interrogations and tortured with electric current. They demanded that he should confess being a fighter. Eight days later all detainees from the cell were suddenly released. Chitaev had his arm and several ribs broken.
18. Mikail Musaevich and Magomed Isropilovich CHANIEV
(From materials provided by the Ingush Repubilc Procuracy: certificate dated 5.3.95, forensic records)
Mikail Musaevich Chaniev (born 1971, residing in Nesterovskaya at 6 Rechnaya St.) and Magomed Isropilovich Chaniev (born 1972, fled Prigorodny region of North Ossetia) were arbitrarily detained at a checkpoint near Sernovodsk. They were beaten and brought to Mozdok FC, where M.I.Chaniev was systematically beaten: they were trying to force out confession of taking part in the fighting on Dudaev side. As a result, M.I.Chaniev had his nose broken. Both were released on January 29 for lack of any guilt.
Resulting injuries were documented in forensic records.
19. Ahmed Khizirovich IDRISOV
(Interview taken by RHRCG. Recorded by S.V.Sirotkin.)
Idrisov, born in 1965, lived in Grozny at 7, 8 March St., apt.2. On January 23, he was detained while driving past a Russian checkpoint between Sernovodsk and Samashki. There were no grounds for detention, the detention was not documented. Idrisov was beaten and threatened with death by people in uniform. He saw other detainees being beaten and burnt with cigarette butts.
That same day, Idrisov along with around 30 other detainees was taken to Mozdok FC by helicopter. They had their eyes blindfolded. According to Idrisov, one detainee was killed and his body was thrown out, or the guards just pretended to have done this.
Detainees were constantly beaten during their first days at FC, but then Idrisov was transferred to another carriage where he was not beaten.
People in MVD uniform were quite polite during interrogations and did not beat the men. However, sometimes the investigator would leave the room; some people in camouflage wearing masks would come and beat the detainee. Then they would go out and the investigator went on with the interrogation.
At the time of Idrisov’s stay at the FC it was visited by a group of foreigners. He does not know who they were.
On January 31, Idrisov was released for lack of guilt along with 17 other detainees. According to Idrisov, there were heavily injured people among them.
Among the detainees at FC Idrisov could recall:
1. Two Egyptian brothers (Ibragim and Embi MANSUR). They were charged with participation in illegal armed formations; both bore signs of heavy beatings;
2. Artur Margita (16.5-year-old);
3. Mussa Hajiev (a villager from Novy Sharoi). He was detained and released together with Idrisov;
4. Magomed Tsutsiev (17-year-old villager from Sleptsovskaya);
5. Chiliev brothers. They were detained at the same checkpoint and released on January 26 or 27;
6. Magomed Mamikaev. He was detained together with Idrisov;
7. Ramzan Sakaev. He was released together with Idrisov.
Idrisov had the following injuries: broken fractures of 6-8th ribs, bruisers on his face, chest, hands and feet. This was documented in the forensic record dated February 2, 1995.
20. A man who wished to remain anonymous5
(Interview taken by RHRCG. Recorded by L.A.Aleinik and Iu.Rybakov near Achkoi-Martan on 1.2.95.)
The witness, a Chechen, was detained at a Russian checkpoint between Samashki and Sernovodsk on January 24. There were no grounds for detention, no records were made. He saw eleven more detainees at the checkpoint.
That same day the detainees were taken to Mozdok FC by helicopter. They had their eyes blindfolded. They were heavily baten in the helicopter. According to the witness, two detainees were killed and their bodies thrown out, or at least the guards pretended to have done this. All detainees were threatened with being shot.
Upon arrival in Mozdok they were heavily beaten. According to the witness, two people were shot. He also claims to have been shot in the back of his head, the pistol being loaded with blank cartriges (this information causes serious doubts).
During the first night at FC all the detainees were heavily beaten. According to the witness, FC staff consisted of MVD officials from Ryazan and Chuvashia. The former beat the detainees, the latter treated them much better.
During the interrogation on January 26 the witness was not beaten. According to him, other detainees were not beaten during interrogations either. That same day he was offered to be exchanged for Russian POWs but he declined the offer.
On January 31, the witness along with 16 other detainees was released from FC. Upon request, he was taken to Ingushetia.
Among other detainees at FC the witness could recall:
1. Two Egyptian brothers Mansurchagi (Ibrahim and Hamdi), who were charged with participation in illegal armed formations; both had signs of heavy beatings;
2. Bekhan Idigov, a villager from Assinovskaya, was detained at the checkpoint together with the witness;
3. Shelkhalov, who was detained at the checkpoint together with the witness;
4. Shelkhalov brothers, Hasan and Husein, who were detained at the checkpoint together with the witness;
5. Bekmurziev, who was detained at the checkpoint together with the witness.
21. M.E. HIDIEV
(According to the materials obtained from the Ingush Republic Procuracy. Certificate dated 5.3.95.)
Hidiev, Ingush Republic Sunzha district Deputy Procurator, was arbitrarily detained by interior troops near Samashki while driving home from work in the evening of January 27, 1995. Despite the fact that he had produced his documents he was handcuffed and held in a bus for the whole night and the first half of the day January 28; then he was released.
22. Amirkhan Israilovich MUTALIEV
(Interview record provided by Memorial/Ingushetia)
Mutaliev, born in 1967, lived in Grozny at 70 Mayakovskogo Gorodok, apt. 42.
Mutaliev had sent his family to Nazran but stayed in Grozny. In January, his residential area fell under Russian control. Buses to Mozdok and Nazran traveled through that part of the city. On January 27, Mutaliev took a bus to Nazran carrying several suitcases with his and his family belongings.
The bus was stopped at an OMON checkpoint outside the town. An officer entered and asked all young men to get off. They were searched and cursed, then taken to a nearby truck as «marauders taking property out of Grozny».
After some time, a drunk officer and soldier got into the truck with 33 people in it. The officer said, «Shoot them there, in Znamenka». The truck started but having gone just 200 meters turned over (the driver was drunk). During the accident many people in the truck were injured. The military helped them. Those who received fractures were taken to the hospital in 15th dairy farm.
The guards got frightened. They treated the detainees in various ways. One brought bread and canned meat.
The detainees who were not injured (25 people) were taken to a helicopter site and put into a helicopter. They were laid on the floor, beaten and robbed (they confiscated Mutalibov’s 100,000 roubles). In Mozdok disembarkmente was accompanied by the words, «We have brought captured fighters.» The detainees were beaten again.
The detainees were taken to prison carriages. Twenty-three people were pressed in one compartment; then they were separated by 12. The detainees were taken one by one to a separate compartment and made to undress there: they were looking for rifle signs on the fingers and shoulders.
At FC people were beaten by the guards only when taken to the toilet.
During interrogations, investigators asked Mutaliev where he had fought, who the commanders were, etc. The following day the guards became more polite with the detainees.
They started releasing detainees on January 30. Mutaliev was released on January 31. All of his cellmates were released along with him.
Among other detainees at FC Mutaliev could recall:
1. Magomed Gandaloev, living in Malgobek (Ingushetia) at 3/35 Tolstogo St. He was detained and released together with Mutaliev;
2. Usman Khomutaev, former head of the 4th Vodokanal shop. He was released together with Mutaliev, heavily beaten.
23. Adam Akievich CHEKIEV
(Interview record provided by Memorial/Ingushetia. Interview taken in Nazran on February 10, 1995.)
Chekiev, born in 1951, worked in a construction cooperative in Assinovskaya. He was detained at a checkpoint near Assinovskaya while driving on January 29. He was taken to the airport, beaten and robbed on the way: his watch and calculator were confiscated.
Along with other detainees Chekiev was brought to Mozdok by helicopter. During the flight the detainees were threatened with being thrown out.
Upon arrival to FC all the detainees were beaten, but later there were no beatings.
During interrogation they suggested that Chekiev should agree to be exchanged for Russian POWs but he declined the offer.
On February 3, Chekiev was released. Confiscated documents were not returned.
24. Shahid Isidovich BATASHEV
(Interview taken by RHRCG. Recorded by A.Iu.Blinushov in the hospital in Sleptsovskaya, Ingushetia, on 9.2.95.)
52-year-old Batashev works as the cannery director in Assinovskaya. He was against Dudaev’s regime.
He was detained at an OMON checkpoint near Assinovskaya on January 29 while driving in an office car together with his wife. The search of the car yielded two cartriges for a sniper rifle. According to Batashev, there could not have been any cartriges in the car. He was beaten and, with his hands tied and eyes blindfolded, thrown into a truck and taken to the airport at Sleptsovskaya. They broke his nose with a club before putting him into a helicopter, threw him into a mud ditch left by a tank with his hands tied, broke his jaw with a rifle butt and threatened to kill him.
Batashev was brought to Mozdok FC by helicopter and again beaten upon arrival.
He was interrogated for the first time on the fourth day. The interrogation was polite; that same day he was released. The money confiscated by the FC staff was returned (the only known case), but not the documents.
The hospital doctors’ diagnosis: three ribs, nose, jaw broken; liver and one kidney injured; deterioration of the heart.
25. H.D. JAMULAEV
(Materials obtained from Ingush Republic Procuracy. Certificate dated 5.3.95, forensic records.)
Jamulaev, a militiaman from the Sunzha District Interior Ministry department, was going to the office. He was detained by Russian soldiers near Samashki on February 9. He was brought to a federal forces base near Assinovskaya where he was heavily beaten. They demanded that he should show where «Ingush fighters» were deployed. After that Jamulaev was kept in a place unknown to him until February 13; then he was released without his documents, money and clothes being returned.
26. Ruslan Musaevich ABDULAEV
(Interview taken by RHRCG. Recorded during the visit to Mozdok FC on February 26.)
Abdulaev, a Chechen, lived in Assinovskaya at 31 Diakova St.
Abdulaev was detained at a checkpoint near Assinovskaya at about 9 a.m. on February 20. He had no weapons; there was an «old type 5-rouble note in the passport». Formal ground for detention: «Because I am allegedly wanted in Kazakhstan; there may have been a deficit in my balance there, as a Chechen». 370 000 roubles were confiscated at the time of detention; this was witnessed by relatives (listed).
The two were brought in a UAZ jeep to a small carriage in the field; two detainees were already there. Then they were taken to Mozdok by helicopter; before embarkation they were beaten. They were taken to FC by car.
27. Salam BAISAROV
(Interview taken by RHRCG. Recorded during the visit to Mozdok FC on February 26.)
Baisarov, a 64-year-old Chechen, lives in Assinovskaya.
He was detained at a border post at the Sernovodsk-Assinovskaya crossing at 11 a.m. on February 24 while driving in his Moskvich-412 without any grounds: just for an old type 10-rouble note, they said, «This is a password.» «Drunk special force soldiers without any questions confiscated the car and belongings»; they just took Drujba-2 mechanical saw, washing machine, around 25 thousand roubles. He had no weapons with him, only a registered hunting knife in the car. He had his eyes blindfolded and was «humiliatingly kicked».
On the way the guards took his fur hat. In Mozdok they were initially brought to some place with detainees and then by car to prison carriages.
In the prison carriages «the soldiers beat when they were drunk».
According to other detainees, Ganukaev was tortured with electric current: «they attached wire to his body and turned a telephone handle».
28. Hasan Abuevich SHAMSUDDINOV
(Interview taken by RHRCG. Recorded during the visit to Mozdok FC on February 26.)
Shamsudinov, a Chechen refugee registered by the Federal Migration Service and Ministry for Emergency Situations, lived in Sleptsovskaya at his relatives’ at 18 Iuzhnaya St.
On February 21, the border guards stopped a bus that was going from Urus-Martan to Sleptsovskaya, at a checkpoint between Samashki and Sernovodsk. Men were taken out of the bus; only Shamsuddinov was detained for not having permanent registration at the place of residence (registered in Assinovskaya). In addition, an outdated 5 rouble note was found in his wallet.
After his detention they put him in an APC and drove for about an hour. He was kept in a prison car for three days. He was pushed during embarkment, fell and got injured. There were 10 more detainees there.
They were brought to FC on February 24. Shamsuddinov had suffered from tuberculosis before; coughing and aches resumed. A doctor came once; there were no more visits.
29. Tahir DAVLETUKAEV
(Interview taken by Human Rights NGOs Observer Mission. Recorded by A.Blinushov, Memorial, in Mozdok on 19.4.95.)
Tahir Davletukaev, the Chechen Republic Shchelkovsky district Procurator, was detained at home at about 5 a.m. on March 12. He lived in Shchelkovskaya at 72 Sovetskaya St.
It was not his first detention: around March 9, Davletukaev and forestry director Ahmadov were detained without any documents or warrants, according to the former, «because of the respect he enjoyed in the district». They were not beaten. They were kept in a cold car for 24 hours at an interior troops base and when they were taken to Mozdok in APCs the following day the crowd stopped the convoy and forced the guards to release the detainees.
The second time, Davletukaev was detained at home at about 5 a.m. by a group of about 20 people, apparently, special forces people. The search yielded weapons (issued by the militia authority, there is a confirming record in the corresponding register): one pistol, one automatic rifle, nine cartriges; everything was put on record. Also valuables were confiscated without documentation.
Davletukaev was «covertly brought to Mozdok» where he was kept in a prison carriage cell along with two militia officials from Nadterechny district (18 and 20 years old).
In total, there were about 25 people in the FC carriage at that time, «they were brought and taken. Most were brought from the checkpoint near Samashki. There detainees were kept in a truck at an MVD unit base before being taken to Mozdok FC. Wthout food, naked, up to three days.» Detainees were beaten; the last group (around March 24-25) was «very heavily beaten»; one 68-year-old man was totured with a blow lamp. Those brought to FC were no longer beaten, they were provided medical care. «If compared with this it’s like heaven in a FC.»
Detainees were given dry bread, water, if available, sometimes boiled.
Treatment largely depended on the shift on duty; some «give only 5 seconds to attend your needs: to enter toilet from that end, do everything in five seconds and run back — it’s impossible».
At night, when the officers would leave, the guards would get drunk and beat the detainees. Though he was not beaten himself Davletukaev claimed that everyone was beaten at FC: «No one came out of there uninjured.»
Davletukaev gives the example of Bonzhaev, father of six children, living at Chervlenaya-Uzlovaya station. He was held at FC for about two months and then released. Bonzhaev spent a fortnight at home recovering; he was detained for the second time on March 13, brought to Mozdok FC and beaten heavily. As of the second half of April, Bonzhaev was at home in a heavy condition.
During visits to FC by superiors or commissions the detainees were warned, «If you say that someone has been mistreated, you are finished.» However, all detainees complained to visiting ICRC representatives and journalists, which resulted in no more beatings of the newly brought detainees and providing of medical care.
They repeatedly suggested that Davletukaev should agree to be exchanged; he insisted on his case being transferred to court. They refused as well as to provide a lawer and threatened to «beat everything out of him». On March 27 he was transferred to the Pyatigorsk PDF (so called «White Swan»). Several days later he was released, again arrested right at the PDF doors, handcuffed and brought back to Mozdok. He was placed in the same cell with Dudaev’s cousin, who was to be exchanged. Though Davletukaev declined the exchange offer again, demanding that his case should be transferred to court, on April 7 he was taken to Vedeno along with 15 other detainees and exchanged for Russian POWs, FSS Major Seregin among them. Out of 16 exchanged detainees (14 Chechens, one Dagestani and a Russian from Grozny), only one was detained with weapon at hand, the rest were civilians.
30. Sekudin, a villager from Assiniovskaya
(Interview taken by Human Rights NGOs Observer Mission. Recorded by A.Blinushov, Memorial, in Sernovodsk on April 12. The name of the witness has not been put on record but we considered it possible to incorporate his testimony in the report.)
At 5 p.m. in the evening of March 22, unidentified soldiers in camouflage uniform wearing shawls drove to his house in an APC and an URAL truck. Without any explanations or bringing charges they tied his hands, beat him and «pushed» him into the APC with «automatic rifles»: «They didn’t let me say a word and asked nothing themselves». His belongings (they may have been valuable things) were loaded onto the truck: «Nothing was left, they took everything.» An hour later he had his eyes blindfolded and was taken to an unknown destination.
They brought us «to some base», placed in an auto repair car: like a solitary cell — you can neither lie, nor sit. I spent three days there. There were more people in other cells. You have a blindfold on your eyes, hands tied, see nothing, hear nothing. No food, only water once a day. At night — midnight, 1 a.m. — they take you out, beat you, throw you back into the car half dead. Eyes bandaged, you can’t see how many they are, what they are doing. Took you out several times, beat you, burned you with cigarette butts. They took half of the clothes, took the money from my pocket.
In the evening of the fourth day six people with eyes bandaged were put into helicopters on the floor, the guards sitting over them, and taken to Mozdok. At the Mozdok airport they were thrown out of the helicopter and beaten ferociously, then put into a car and brought to the FC carriages.
There they took off eye blindfolds and led the detainees into the carriage saying, «Here we have caught Dudaev fighters, he fought.» At that point the detainees were beaten again. It happened on March 25. Arrival to the FC was not officially recorded.
Among the newly brought detainees many were injured or wounded or had fractures. Those who complained during subsequent medical «examination» by a visiting doctor (he was a serviceman, made no records and left quickly) were taken out to the corridor one by one and beaten again. «When the doctor comes people are scared to complain.» Sometimes, the guards gave bandages and medicine: «They give their own, whoever happens to be kind, whoever happens to be human.»
Then an investigator came and took fingerprints. He did not introduce himself, just a military man in black uniform without shoulder stripes. He did not beat him and «treated me normally». Secudin was taken to the interrogation «many times» during 15 days. He was asked «who the fighters were, where they were, who had shot first in Chechnya, who did what ...» He was told some names and asked if he «knew such and such people».
During the day the detainees were taken out to work irrespective of their health. They were cleaning up rubbish and sawing boards.
There were five people in the cell, around 25 in the carriage. They were fed «normally», taken to the toilet «on request», given water «on request». «It’s all normal in the carriage in Mozdok. Nothing to complain about. But before you get there some survive, some die.»
However, drunk guards «inhumanly mistreat» detainees at night. No procurator seemed to have visited. There were no commissions at the FC for a fortnight.
On April 6, Secudin was released, and given back his documents and a certificate. His belongings and money were not returned.
About 15 people were released (it is unclear whether they were released during the whole period or on that day). There were no exchanges during his detention.
31. Isani HANOEV
(Interview taken by Human Rights NGOs Observer Mission. Recorded by A.Blinushov, Memorial, in Sernovodsk on April 7.)
Hanoev, born in 1970, a villager from Assinovskaya, was detained at home together with his father Movli (born 1930) on March 25. Two more villagers were detained along with them. They had their eyes blindfolded, were beaten and taken to a nearby army unit base. They were kept in prison cars there. Food was given once a day.
The detainees were beaten at night. Hanoev was beaten and tortured with electric current.
The guards humiliated them asking, «Who is the richest? Who will pay more to get out of here?»
On March 29, Hanoev was taken to Mozdok by helicopter. During the flight the guards were beating them heavily with rifle butts and kicking them. Upon arrival at Mozdok all detainees were beaten again at the airport.
There were no beatings at Mozdok FC, the guards treated them normally, there was no abuse during interrogations. Medical care was provided: detainees were given bandages and iodine. People in poor condition were treated by the doctor personally. Once a day they were given a half can of porriage.
On April 6, Hanoev was released, having signed a no-grievance statement. He was given a certificate of detention.
According to Hanoev, four detainees to be released along with him (Aiub, a villager from Samashki, among them) were suddenly put into a car and taken to an unknown destination. He learned later that they were reportedly exchanged for Russian POWs.
Among other detainees Hanoev could recall:
1. Bursagov, from Sernovodsk;
2. Utan Izrailov. He was heavily beaten, and had a serious head injury.
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