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Persoverzicht Tsjetsjenië - januari 2009

13 januari


Budanov’s release postponed: According to media reports, the early release of former army colonel Yury Budanov, who had been convicted of the murder of a Chechen girl, has been postponed pending a complaint from the victim’s family. In December 2008, a court in the Ulyanovskregion granted parole to Budanov. (MT, NG, VN)



15 januari


Chechen refugee killed in Vienna: The Moscow Times reports that Austrian authorities are investigating the killing on Tuesday in Viennaof reportedly a Chechen political refugee. Austrian authorities announced on Wednesday that they have arrested a Chechen suspect in the killing and “are investigating whether certain “secret services” may have been behind the attack”. (MT)


16 januari


Ex-colonel Budanov’s release sparks outrage: Former army colonel Yury Budanov convicted of the murder of a Chechen girl Elza Kungayeva was released on parole on Thursday. Budanov admitted his guilt and repented (he claimed temporary insanity, saying that he killed Kungayeva because he thought she was a sniper). Budanov’s release sparked outrage among the victim’s family, human rights advocates and Chechen officials. The media reports that investigators are conducting checks in connection with a letter from Chechen Ombudsman Nurdi Nukhazhiyev who has requested that a new criminal case be opened against Budanov. (Gazeta, Interfax, Izvestia, Kommersant, MT, NG, Novye Izvestia, VN)


20 januari


Lawyer in high-profile cases, journalist killed in Moscow: The defence lawyer for the family of a Chechen girl murdered by former army colonel Yury Budanov, Stanislav Markelov, was shot dead on Monday in central Moscowafter holding a news conference. A journalist for Novaya Gazeta, Anastasia Baburova, who was near Markelov at the time of the attack was wounded and later died at a hospital. Investigators say Markelov’s professional activity is the main theory to explain the murder. Commentators point out that Markelov had been involved in other high-profile cases. The deputy head of Rosprirodnadzor (Russia’s environmental watchdog), Oleg Mitvol, did not rule out that the murder could have been linked to an attempt on the life of editor of Khimkinskaya Pravda Mikhail Beketov as Markelov also defended Beketov. Well-known lawyer Mikhail Barshchevsky described the killing as an “anti-Russian provocation”. Human rights advocates expressed grief and outrage over Markelov’s death. (All media)


Moscowbans arms exports to Georgia: President Medvedev has signed a decree banning exports of military and dual purpose products to Georgiaand providing for “special economic measures” against foreign countries, companies and individuals shown to have delivered weapons or military technology to Georgia. Observers view the decree as directed first of all against Ukrainewhich has been accused by Russiaof delivering arms to Georgia. (Gazeta, Interfax, Kommersant, RBK daily, RG, RIAN, Vedomosti, VN)


21 januari


Probe into lawyer Markelov’s murder:The media reports on an investigation into the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and a journalist for Novaya Gazeta, Anastasia Baburova. Spokesman for the Investigations Committee, Vladimir Markin, said on Tuedsay that the killing “could have been perpetrated by both a professional killer and a lone criminal who disagreed with Markelov’s views on human rights issues”. Former army colonel Yury Budanov who was convicted of the murder of a Chechen girl called the killing of her family’s lawyer “a provocation”. The Czech Presidency of the EU expressed concern over Markelov’s murder. International rights groups have called on the Russian Government to thoroughly investigate the crime. (Gazeta, Interfax, Kommersant, MT, NG, Novye Izvestia, RG, RIAN, Vedomosti)


23 januari


Strasbourg Courtrules against Russiain Chechen abductions cases: The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russiapay around 250,000 euro to plaintiffs in three cases involving the disappearance and death of Chechen residents in the early 2000s. (RIAN)


Chechen immigrants protest in Vienna over Chechen refugee’s killing: The Moscow Times (Bloomberg) reports on an action of protest on Thursday in Viennastaged by Chechen immigrants against what they said was the “Kremlin’s hand” in the killing of Chechen refugee Umar Israilov. (MT)


28 januari


Militant leader killed in Northern Caucasus: (i) An envoy of Chechen separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev, Isa Khadiyev, has been killed in an operation carried out by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Russian Interior Ministry in the Northern Caucasus. In a statement, the FSB said Khadiyev had been active in the Northern Caucasussince May 2008. (ii) Two suspected militants were killed in an FSB operation on 24 January in Ingushetia. (Izvestia, Kommersant, RG, RIAN)


Fraud case against Moscowmilitary commissioner: A case on fraud and abuse of office charges has been opened against Moscow Military Commissioner Maj. Gen. Andrey Glushchenko who fabricated documents on his alleged participation in the counter-terrorist operation in the Northern Caucasusin 2001. (Gazeta, VN)


29 januari


Austrian authorities detain seven suspects in Chechen refugee’s killing: Austrian authorities have reportedly arrested seven suspects in the killing of Chechen refugee Umar Israilov who was a former body guard of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. A spokesman for the Viennapublic prosecutor’s office said all those detained were Chechens. (MT)


30 januari


Chechen authorities ready to talk to Akhmed Zakayev: Dailies cite the head of the Chechen administration’s information and analytical department Lema Gudayev as calling Akhmed Zakayev “one of the few adequate representatives of the so-called government of Ichkeria” and adding that Chechen authorities are ready to negotiate with Zakayev. Gudayev expressed doubts about claims [by the Federal Security Service] of Zakayev’s involvement in the formation of illegal armed units in Chechnyaand Dagestan, Kommersant writes. (Kommersant, VN)

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