Front Line is alarmed by reports it has received from the Kazan Center for Human Rights. On the 27th of May 2004 the Center was broken into and badly vandalized. Reportedly, two men concealing their identity with masks broke into the offices and destroyed computers and other office equipment. One staff member of the Center was present during the attack.

The Kazan Human Rights Center (in the autonomous republic of Tatarstan, Russia), is a human rights organization providing legal support for victims of human rights violations from the side of law enforcement bodies. From April 2003 to May 2004 human rights activists received more than 140 complaints on illegal activity of Tatarstan law enforcement bodies. All of them were checked. As a result the Center’s lawyers managed to initiate 11 official investigations on tortures and corruption against 11 militia officers. The court found four militiamen guilty; six others are waiting for trials.

The Center has been under threat since the publication of its book: Law and its Victims in April 2004. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan opened an investigation into the Center shortly after the publication of this report. Also last week Front Line understands that members of the Internal Affairs were present at the Center’s offices scanning documentation and questioning members of staff.

Front Line is also concerned for the safety of Professor Vladimir Chikov, the former chairman of the Center, as there was allegedly a grenade of the type F-1 found near the door of his apartment on the 25th May 2004.