By Country / Russia
European Court Rules Chechen Brothers Tortured
January 18, 2007
January 18, 2007 -- The European Court of Human Rights ruled today that the Russian military tortured two Chechen brothers when they were held in custody in 2000.
The Strasbourg-based court also awarded Adam and Arbi Chitayev each 35,000 euros ($45,280) in compensation.
The two brothers say they were beaten with full water bottles and rubber truncheons, almost strangled with adhesive tape and gas masks, had dogs set on them, and their skin torn with pliers during about six months of detention.
They also say they survived only because of an article written by slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya and the help of the Memorial human rights group.
Human rights groups have long accused Russian forces of abuses in Chechnya, accusations that Russia denies. Today's ruling is said to be the first torture conviction against Russian forces.
(Reuters)