For several weeks the Russian society is witnessing a series of shocking statements of the leader and a number of civil servants of the Chechen Republic. We consider the rhetoric of the state servants containing intimidation, calling to violence against citizens, criminal prosecution and cessation of activity of human rights organizations and mass media, to be unacceptable.

With regard to this, the Committee Against Torture submitted applications to the General Prosecutor’s Office addressed to I.V.Krasnov and to the Investigative Committee addressed to A.I.Bastrykin with request to check the legality and give evaluation of Ramzan Kadyrov’s statements as well as the statements of the civil servants of the Chechen Republic, and perform a check as per Articles 144 and 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Russia for resolving the issue of opening a criminal case.

Previously, we observed that the aggressive statements of Kadyrov were interpreted as encouragement of or calling to illegal actions. We are seriously concerned that permissiveness with regard to the Chechen authorities is cultivated in Russia upon sufferance of the central authorities.

The statements addressed to the Committee Against Torture, independent media Tvrain and “Novaya Gazeta”, journalist Elena Milashina and member of the Human Rights Council Igor Kalyapin are beyond the limits of what is acceptable and legal, and may result in tragic consequences not only for the above-mentioned organizations and individuals, but for all the Russian society.

The Committee Against Torture expresses solidarity with and support of the journalists and human rights defenders who turned out to be so vulnerable and unprotected by the authorities in their own country that are forced to live in fear or leave their Motherland. This is unacceptable, unthinkable and unforgivable.

We publish the statements submitted to the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Committee available to the public and hope for prompt response by the state.

Application to the General Prosecutor’s Office

Application to the Investigative Committee