ECtHR demands from Russia information on investigation into kidnapping of Dagestan resident

The European Court on Human Rights (ECtHR) has addressed the authorities of the Russian Federation asking them to present, before September 21, 2009, information about details of the inquiry into the kidnapping of Sirazhudin Minatulaevich Shafiev, a resident of Dagestan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in the morning on September 8 Sirazhudin Shafiev was kidnapped in the city of Derbent in the eyes of numerous witnesses by unidentified persons in camouflage and masks.

Shafiev's relatives have addressed, with assistance of the lawyers from the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", the ECtHR, which is now demanding from the authorities of the Russian Federation to present information about the measures taken to establish Mr Shafiev's whereabouts, whether they know where he is and whether he had been detained by state power agents, and if so, what the reasons and legal grounds were for his arrest and holding in custody, where he is kept and in what conditions. Also the European Court wants to know, what measures were taken by the authorities to provide Shafiev with legal aid.

The ECtHR has also requested from the government of Russia copies of all documents related to the steps taken to establish Mr Shafiev's whereabouts or his custody, if he had been detained by the state. This is stated in the message of the HRC "Memorial" that has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot".