Zelimkhan Murdalov
Encyclopedia
Zelimkhan Murdalov was a 26-year-old student
from Grozny
, Chechnya
, who left his home on January 2, 2001, saying he would be back soon, but did not return. His parents tracked him down at the police station
, where an official promised that he would soon be released, but they have not seen their son since. According to witnesses, Murdalov was subsequently severely torture
d and apparently killed while in police custody. His case was first brought to the public prominence by the September 2001 Novaya Gazeta
article "The Disappearance" by Anna Politkovskaya
.
On January 7, 2001, a criminal investigation was opened into Murdalov's disappearance. The investigation found that on January 3, 2001, Murdalov was taken into a cell in the district police of Oktyabrsky district of Grozny by Lapin and another unidentified official; there Lapin had beaten Murdalov with a truncheon
and subjected him to electric shock
treatment. Witnesses told the court that while in the cell, Murdalov could hardly stand and lost consciousness several times; his arm was broken, his ear torn and he had received concussion to his head. The next day Lapin and some colleagues took Murdalov out of the cell; since then his fate and whereabouts remain unknown. It emerged in court that he was tortured in detention in an attempt to turn him into an informant
. In 2005 and again in 2007, former OMON
officer Sergei Lapin
was sentenced to prison for the torture of Zelimkhan Murdalov.
According to Amnesty International
Zelimkhan Murdalov is one of thousands of people who have become victims of forced disappearance
s in Chechnya. Virtually none of investigations have produced any results, and relatives seeking justice often face reprisal
s and intimidation
.
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
from Grozny
Grozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
, Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, who left his home on January 2, 2001, saying he would be back soon, but did not return. His parents tracked him down at the police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
, where an official promised that he would soon be released, but they have not seen their son since. According to witnesses, Murdalov was subsequently severely torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
d and apparently killed while in police custody. His case was first brought to the public prominence by the September 2001 Novaya Gazeta
Novaya Gazeta
Novaya Gazeta is a Russian newspaper well known in the country for its critical and investigative coverage of Russian political and social affairs....
article "The Disappearance" by Anna Politkovskaya
Anna Politkovskaya
Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist, author, and human rights activist known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and then-President of Russia Vladimir Putin...
.
On January 7, 2001, a criminal investigation was opened into Murdalov's disappearance. The investigation found that on January 3, 2001, Murdalov was taken into a cell in the district police of Oktyabrsky district of Grozny by Lapin and another unidentified official; there Lapin had beaten Murdalov with a truncheon
Baton (law enforcement)
A truncheon or baton is essentially a club of less than arm's length made of wood, plastic, or metal...
and subjected him to electric shock
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
treatment. Witnesses told the court that while in the cell, Murdalov could hardly stand and lost consciousness several times; his arm was broken, his ear torn and he had received concussion to his head. The next day Lapin and some colleagues took Murdalov out of the cell; since then his fate and whereabouts remain unknown. It emerged in court that he was tortured in detention in an attempt to turn him into an informant
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
. In 2005 and again in 2007, former OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
officer Sergei Lapin
Sergei Lapin
Sergei Lapin, also known by his radio communications call sign Kadet , is a former Russian police officer who had served in Grozny, Chechnya as a Lieutenant in the OMON from the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug...
was sentenced to prison for the torture of Zelimkhan Murdalov.
According to Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
Zelimkhan Murdalov is one of thousands of people who have become victims of forced disappearance
Forced disappearance
In international human rights law, a forced disappearance occurs when a person is secretly abducted or imprisoned by a state or political organization or by a third party with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of a state or political organization, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the...
s in Chechnya. Virtually none of investigations have produced any results, and relatives seeking justice often face reprisal
Reprisal
In international law, a reprisal is a limited and deliberate violation of international law to punish another sovereign state that has already broken them. Reprisals in the laws of war are extremely limited, as they commonly breached the rights of civilians, an action outlawed by the Geneva...
s and intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
.