What happened that compromised human rights?

The case of Chechnya, also referred to as the “Dirty War” is repeatedly compromising several human rights. Basic human rights, such as the right to life, liberty and property were dishonored. Chechen people were captured and killed for no apparent reason because the Russian government wanted to keep them under control. In addition, people were subjected to torture and inhumane treatment. People were often subjected to privacy, family, home or correspondence. People are detained in the nighttime by Russian speaking masked men. Their homes were surrounded by Russian secret police during the night without any identification, and were detained without being told why. After this, they were tortured, interrogated, raped, and/or murdered. This was all done to prevent revolt, or because the Russian government unquestionable power felt threatened by the people.

One of the worst violations forced upon every Chechen is that they are not allowed to leave the country without identification papers. Chechens, unlike citizens of the freed Baltic states, cannot cross Europe’s borders freely. There are “zachisti”, or cleanup operations in which Russians check Chechens identity papers. However, it doesn’t end here. The torture, ransom, disappearance, and execution of humans is common ground there. The survivors of these cleanup operations are raided and forced into poorer situations.

From 1991 until the present, Chechnya has suffered 2 full-scale assaults by Russia’s military. The plan of Russia is to decrease Chechnya’s population by starving it’s people and having them obey all the Russian demands. Russian troops detain tens of thousands of people without officially registering them as detainees. Russian troops have freely entered and searched thousands of homes-frequently stripping them bare of valuables-but no official record is acknowledged to exist for the vast majority of these searches.

Typical behavior of the Russian federal forces is extrajudicial (outside the authority of a court) detentions, interrogations, torture, and executions. This is done in attempt to gain control over the supposed Chechen allies who are considered radical, and a threat to the Russian control. Kadyrov has over 10 units to hold and torture detainees, which are unlawful, and often held on private property throughout Chechnya. The detainees and their families often don’t receive information about why they were detained, and usually are kidnapped at night, after the secret police breaks in without any papers or explanations as to why they are there. A lot of the time, most of the people are released, and without having any charges against them. They are released with the promise of getting tortured even worse, unless they keep their mouths shut. Kadyrov also used illegal tactics to obtain information from the detainees; such as electrocution, and beating prisoners. Most of the prisoners have been detained for either days or weeks in detention facilities. All of the people that had spoken to the Human Rights Watch that had been illegally detained in Russia, have either said that they were subjected to brutal beatings, and were often tortured. They were also electrocuted, and would have wires attached to their extremities or other parts, where they would receive the shocks.

When the word Chechnya is said, many will think of the infamous Chechen rebels. Not only does Russia intentionally inflict pain on Chechens, but Chechen separatist have turned to violent action as well in Russia. Chechen rebels often take people hostage in attempt to draw attention to their petition to be separated from Russian colonization. The Chechens have always been traditionally resistant to outside rule. They often take people hostages, but this is usually in response to Russian actions. Also, Chechens have been fighting back, breaking the human rights themselves. In Vladikavkaz, Russia, 6 of Russian servicemen have been killed, along with 15 others, who were wounded from some confrontations in Chechnya. The majority of them were killed within a 24-hour period, at official Russian checkpoints and positions. Russian troops have held over fifty suspected rebels and their accomplices.

Christina, Kate, Caleigh