31 January 2004, 16:26
Human rights activists accused of organizing unauthorized meeting in Ingushetia
On January 29, the head and members of the North Caucasian office of the Society for Russian-Chechen Friendship who made arrangements for a visit of Chairwoman of the Russian President's Commission on Human Rights Ella Pamfilova to refugee camps were detained in the outskirts of the Ordzhonikidzevskaya village, Ingushetia. Imran Ezhiev, Khamzat Kuchiev and Adnan Ibragimov spent a night at the Sunzhensky district police department. Police officers accused the Society's activists of organizing an unauthorized meeting.
On January 30, Ella Pamfilova together with Svetlana Gannushkina, a member of the presidential Commission on Human Rights, arrived in Ingushetia. Having learnt with what Ella Pamfilova's commission had ended for the human rights activists, both the members of the presidential commission came to the Sunzhensky district police department. The police officers did not expect it at all. Ezhiev, Ibragimov and Kuchiev were immediately released in response to Ms Pamfilova's demand to stop the arbitrary act against the members of the human rights organization.
Then Ella Pamfilova, Svetlana Gannushkina and Imran Ezhiev made their way to Grozny, Chechnya, to monitor a situation at temporary accommodation centers.
Editors note: See also the article "Presidential Commission on Human Rights chairwoman studies situation with Chechen refugees home-coming".
Source: Society for Russian-Chechen Friendship
