map
Our Affiliates
Listen In 28 LanguagesRFE/RL Radio
In 28 Languages

CNN: RFE/RL is "World Changing Radio"

CNN International reports on RFE/RL's role in Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution, and its continuing mission to spread free media More
More Articles

By Country / Russia

Chechen Leader Confirms Political Kidnappings

February 18, 2005

Relatives of separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov (in file photo) have been abducted, officials confirmed today

Relatives of separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov (in file photo) have been abducted, officials confirmed today

18 February 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The head of Chechnya's pro-Moscow administration has announced that relatives of separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov have been kidnapped.

Alu Alkhanov's comments today are a confirmation of what Chechen officials earlier said was an apparent series of abductions.

Russian and Western rights groups have said they suspect forces loyal to Chechnya's Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov of being responsible for the eight relatives' abductions in December.

But Alkhanov today said those allegations were "not entirely appropriate," adding that prosecutors had searched Kadyrov's home village and found nothing.

Ramzan Kadyrov is the son of Akhmed-hadji Kadyrov, who was killed in a separatist bomb attack in Grozny in May.

(with additional RIA-Novosti reporting)

Related Stories:

"Chechen Official Says Abduction Figures Overstated"

Rights Groups Says Abductions Rampant In Chechnya

"Russia: Army Testing New Equipment In Chechnya"

"Chechnya: Cease-Fire Holding, But Little Chance Of Negotiations Seen"
Share:
TEXT SIZE - +

Editors' Picks

Still Unsolved

Widow Recalls 'Nuclear Assassination' Video

'Religious Hatred'

Russia Buries Slain Priest Photogallery

Murder! Scandal!

Russia's King Of The Tabloids

President Van Rompuy

'How's That Again?!' Audio

Arresting Images

Photos Of The Week Photogallery

Most Popular

RFE/RL Blogs

Follow Us On Twitter

Keep up-to-date on all the latest news from RFE/RL's broadcast region by following us on Twitter:
~ You can find our instant news feed at @RFE_RLNEWS.
~ An obsessive Kremlin watcher? Follow our blog at @PowerVertical.
~ Human rights abuses chronicled at @RightsWatchdog.
~ News, comment, and the odd silly dictator story at @TransmissionRFE.

Products and services:

RSSMail SubscriptionMobile