In an appeal addressed to the President of the Republic of Dagestan M. Aliev, the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Y. Chaika and the Director of the Federal Security Services A. Bortnikov, human rights organisations demanded an end to the violence against human rights defenders. "We appeal to you regarding recent threats in which a group of relatives of policemen killed in the line of duty, claimed responsibility for some killings and made death threats against journalists, human rights activists and advocates" in a leaflet which was widely distributed.

Further Information

At the beginning of September 2009, hundreds of leaflets written on behalf of "relatives of policemen killed in Dagestan" have been distributed throughout Makhachkala. The leaflets state that relatives themselves will take revenge for those killed and fight for the future of their children because the authorities of the republic can't fight against extremism.

The threats were made against 250 people referring to "the so-called human rights activists, stock advocates and tame journalists". 16 people are identified by name, among them are Bakanai Guseinova and Zaur Gaziev, members of HRC Memorial, Sulaiman Uladiev, the head of broadcasting company "Dagestan", Gadjimurad Kamalov, founder of the newspaper "Chernovik" ("Rough copy"), Svetlana Isaeva and Isalmagomed Nabiev, human rights activists.

The leaflet states that on August 23, 2009 the sentence against "the group of bandits involved in terrorist acts and the killing of officers of the law enforcement authorities and private citizens" was carried out. The authors of the leaflet refer to Artur Butayev, Gadji Gudaliev and Amiraslan Islamov who had been abducted and whose bodies were subsequently found on August 26 in a burned out car.

"The conclusion is therefore that, either law enforcement authorities are trying to put responsibility for its crimes upon a mythical secret organisation of "avengers", or another terrorist group is being organised in Dagestan" said the statement.

"We urge you to do everything to guarantee the safety of the people whom the 'avengers' called their enemies".

Orlov Oleg, Human Rights Center Memorial Ponomarev Lev, "All Russia Movement For Human Rights"

For the whole text of the appeal and the text of the leaflet visit the Memorial web site: Memorial Web Site

September 8, 2009