Russia
03.09.04
Urgent Interventions
The Russian Federation: enforced disappearance of human rights defender in Chechnya
URGENT APPEAL – THE OBSERVATORY
RUS 005 / 0904 / OBS 067
Enforced disappearance
The Russian Federation
September 3, 2004
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in the Russian Federation.
Brief description of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed by a reliable source of the disappearance of Mrs. Fatima Gazieva, who has been a human rights defender for more than ten years and one of the co-founders of the human rights organisation “Echo of War”, and her husband, Mr. Ilyas Ataev, in Kalinovskaya, Naour, Chechnya.
According to information received, Mrs. Fatima Gazieva and her husband were arrested on September 3, 2004 by armed men and have been taken to an unknown place.
The Observatory is extremely concerned by the arrest and subsequent disappearance of Mrs. Fatima Gazieva and Mr. Ilyas Ataev and fears for their physical and psychological integrity.
The Observatory urges the Russian authorities to order an immediate investigation into their disappearance in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities of the Russian Federation urging them to:
i. take all measures to find the whereabouts of Mrs. Fatima Gazieva and Mr. Ilyas Ataev, release them and guarantee their physical and psychological integrity;
ii. order an immediate investigation into their disappearance in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iii. put an end to any kind of repression and intimidation against human rights defenders in the Russian Federation;
iv. conform to the provisions of the Declaration on Humans Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular article 1, which states that "everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels"; article 12.2 which provides that "the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto o de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.";
v. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses:
*******
Paris - Geneva, Septembre 3, 2004
Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, an FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Tel and fax: FIDH : +33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT : (+ 41 22) 809 49 39 / 809 49 29
E-mail : observatoire@iprolink.ch
RUS 005 / 0904 / OBS 067
Enforced disappearance
The Russian Federation
September 3, 2004
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in the Russian Federation.
Brief description of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed by a reliable source of the disappearance of Mrs. Fatima Gazieva, who has been a human rights defender for more than ten years and one of the co-founders of the human rights organisation “Echo of War”, and her husband, Mr. Ilyas Ataev, in Kalinovskaya, Naour, Chechnya.
According to information received, Mrs. Fatima Gazieva and her husband were arrested on September 3, 2004 by armed men and have been taken to an unknown place.
The Observatory is extremely concerned by the arrest and subsequent disappearance of Mrs. Fatima Gazieva and Mr. Ilyas Ataev and fears for their physical and psychological integrity.
The Observatory urges the Russian authorities to order an immediate investigation into their disappearance in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities of the Russian Federation urging them to:
i. take all measures to find the whereabouts of Mrs. Fatima Gazieva and Mr. Ilyas Ataev, release them and guarantee their physical and psychological integrity;
ii. order an immediate investigation into their disappearance in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iii. put an end to any kind of repression and intimidation against human rights defenders in the Russian Federation;
iv. conform to the provisions of the Declaration on Humans Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular article 1, which states that "everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels"; article 12.2 which provides that "the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto o de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.";
v. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses:
- Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation, Kremlin, Moscow, Russia; Fax: + 7 095 206 8510, E-mail: president@gov.ru
- President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, c/o the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation, Avenue de la Paix 15, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland; Fax: + 41 22 734 40 44, E-mail: mission.russian@ties.itu.int
- Procurator General of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Ustinov, Rossiyskaya Federatsiya, 103793 g. Moskva K-31, Ul. B. Dimitrovka, d 15a, Prokuratura Rossiyskoy Federatsii, Generalnomu prokuroru Ustinovu V., Russian Federation; Fax: + 7 095 292 88 48
- Chairwoman of the Presidential Human Rights Commission of the Russian Federation, Ella Pamfilova, Rossiyskaya Federatsiya,103132 g. Moskva, Staraya ploshchad, d 8/5, pod 3, Predsedatele Komissii po pravam cheloveka pri Prezidente, Pamfilove, Elle., Russian Federation; Fax:+ 7 095 206 48 55
- Nikolai Patrushev, Director General of the Federal Security Service, Bolshaia Lubianka 1/3, Moscow, Russia; Fax: + 7 095 975 24 70
- Ambassadeur, Skotnikov, Leonid, Av. de la Paix 15, CH-1211, Genève 20, Suisse ; Fax: +41 22 734 40 44, E-mail : mission.russian@ties.itu.int
- Minister of Internal Affairs, Rashid Nugaliev, ul. Zhitnaya, 16, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation, Telegram: Rossiia, 119991, Moskva, Ministru vnutrennykh del; Fax: + 7 095 237 49 25
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igor Ivanov, Smolenskaya-Sennaya pl, 32/34, 121200 Moscow, Russian Federation, Telegram: Rossiia, 121200 Moskva, Ministru inostrannykh del; Fax: + 7 095 244 22 03
- Ambassador, Skotnikov, Leonid, Av. de la Paix 15, CH-1211, Genève 20, Suisse ; Fax: +41 22 734 40 44, E-mail : mission.russian@ties.itu.int
*******
Paris - Geneva, Septembre 3, 2004
Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, an FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Tel and fax: FIDH : +33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT : (+ 41 22) 809 49 39 / 809 49 29
E-mail : observatoire@iprolink.ch