European Court finds Russia responsible for disappearance of Chechen resident in 2003

On Thursday, the European Court for Human Rights (ECtHR) considered a complaint from Chechnya, regarding disappearance of a young man named Ruslan Kasumov in February 2003. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has learnt about it from a member of the organization called "The Legal Initiative for Russia".

Ruslan Kasumov disappeared under the following circumstances: on February 3, 2003, at about 2 a.m. a big group of militaries in four armoured troop carriers (ATCs) and several other military cars arrived to the house in Pervomaiskaya village in Chechnya, where Ruslan Kasumov stayed for the night. They detained Ruslan and his relative. Militaries asked their names and released the latter, but took Ruslan away with them. Ruslan's family has known nothing about him since.

In spite of the fact that the applicants had immediately informed the authorities about Ruslan's detention, a criminal case was initiated only on March 17, 2003. The investigation established that military machinery had been used during the operation, but failed to identify the persons who drove them.

The Court has unanimously decided that Ruslan Kasumov's right to life was breached; he should be now considered perished (violation of Article 2 of the European Convention on Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms); Russian authorities failed to hold an efficient investigation into the fact of disappearance (violation of Article 2); Ruslan Kasumov was illegally detained (violation of Article 5); the attitude of state bodies to applicants' complaints reached the level of inhuman treatment (violation of Article 3); and the applicants were deprived of efficient means of legal defence against violations (violation of Article 13).

According to the Court verdict, Ruslan Kasumov's parents and sisters shall receive material and moral compensation in the sum of 37,000 euros.

"The Legal Initiative for Russia" provided legal support to the applicants in appealing to the ECtHR.