Russian Federation: Ibragim Gazdiev

On 8 August 2007, 29-year-old Ibragim Gazdiev was reportedly abducted by armed men in the North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia. He has not been seen since, and his family believe that he is - or was - held incommunicado. The authorities deny that they are holding him. The reason for his disappearance is unknown.

Ibragim's father reported his son's disappearance the same day and a criminal investigation was opened. However, the investigation has been suspended more than once; it was reopened in February 2009 but it has been suspended again since.

Amnesty fears that Ibragim Gazdiev is in danger of being tortured or killed in secret or incommunicado detention. There is also concern for the safety of Ibragim's family who face harassment for pursuing justice.

Send an appeal to the Russian authorities now

Previous updates

UPDATE 29 September 2009

ibragimblog Ibragim Gazdiev’s was one of five cases we highlighted in connection with International Day of the Disappeared on 30 August this year. Local group activists sent in more than 50 photographs of themselves holding up signs reading “Where is Ibragim?” which we used to cover a life-size cardboard cut-out silhouette to represent Ibragim.

On 28 September, Amnesty International representatives met with Mr. Evgeny I. Yurkov, Head of the Bilateral Relations & UK Domestic Policy Section at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in London, and presented this silhouette to him. Find out more on the Belarus to Uzbekistan's blog

UPDATE: 15 APRIL 2009
“15 April is my birthday. I share that birthday with Ibragim Gazdiev. But on 15 April this year, Ibragim will have been missing for 616 days, after being seized in his home town of Karabulak in Ingushetia, by armed men thought to be Russian security forces.

On our birthday I’ll be thinking about how Ibragim’s family must be feeling his absence even more keenly on this day. But also about how they will have felt that absence on every single one of those 616 days so far. No human being should have to endure the pain of missing a loved one and not knowing where they are, what has happened to them, or who is responsible.

I urge you to get involved with Amnesty's campaign for Ibragim.” - Benjamin Zephaniah

UPDATE: 4 MARCH 2009
Ibragim Gazdiev's family have asked us to say a big 'THANK YOU' to everyone who has written to support them. Your messages are a great support, especially for Ibragim's father, who is now in hospital. The family apologise that they can't reply to every card individually. They would be very happy to receive more messages of solidarity.

The investigation into Ibragim Gazdiev's case has recently been re-opened and a new investigator appointed. A family member told us that he believes that this is due to all the great international support that they are receiving. He mentioned that the investigator showed him a huge sack of letters with demands to continue the investigation.

Your actions are having an impact - thank you. Please continue to keep up the pressure on the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.

Background information

According to a witness, at 12.54pm on 8 August 2007, Ibragim Gazdiev was abducted in Karabulak, in the republic of Ingushetia in the North Caucasus. He was driving his brother’s car when armed men of Russian appearance surrounded
him, forced him into another car and drove him away. His brother’s car is also missing. He is believed to have been detained by members of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), and held in Ingushetia or in a neighbouring North
Caucasus republic.

Ibragim Gazdiev’s father, Mukhmed Gazdiev, reported his son’s disappearance to the Prosecutor’s Office the same day, and a criminal investigation was opened. The President of Ingushetia, Murat Ziazikov, reportedly ordered that the case be solved as soon as possible. But there has been little progress.

The reason for Ibragim Gazdiev’s disappearance is unknown, but a search had been carried out at the family home on 30 April 2007. His father told Amnesty International that three or four years ago Ibragim Gazdiev had been detained for a day before being released without charge. Mukhmed Gazdiev thinks that because of that incident his son’s name might have been put on police and security forces’ databases. There have been no other incidents suggesting Ibragim Gazdiev was in trouble with the authorities.

If Ibragim Gazdiev was indeed abducted by a state security agency which is refusing to admit it is holding him or tell his family where he is, then he is a victim of enforced disappearance. He is in real danger of being tortured or killed in secret or incommunicado detention. Amnesty International is also concerned for the safety of Ibragim Gazdiev’s family, who face harassment for their pursuit of justice for their son.

Send an appeal to the Russian authorities now

Please send the appeal letter below to the Russian authorities to ensure that the investigation into Ibragim Gazdiev’s disappearance progresses

TIME SAVERS If you'd like to get together with some friends and send appeal letters as a group we've prepared some time savers for you. You can download address labels for this case (Word - for L1760 size label) to save you doing them all by hand.

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Recipient(s):

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Alexandr Bastrykin - Head of the Investigative Committee of the Prosecutor General's office

Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Bolshaia Dmitrovka 15a
Moscow 125993
Russian Federation
Fax: 00 7 495 692 17 25

Yurii Chaika - Prosecutor General

Office of the Prosecutor General
of the Russian Federation
Bolshaia Dmitrovka 15d
Moscow, 125993
Russian Federation
Fax: 00 7 495 692 1725

Rashid Nurgaliev - Minister of Internal Affairs

Ul. Zhitnaia, 16
119049 Moscow
Russian Federation
Fax: 00 7 495 237 49 25

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Dear (recipient name)

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I am writing to you to express my deep concern for Ibragim Gazdiev, who was reportedly abducted by armed men in camouflage on 8 August 2007 in Karabulak, Ingushetia.

It is extremely important that Ibragim’s current whereabouts be established and his family be informed of what has happened to him. I am therefore discouraged to learn that the investigation into Ibragim’s disappearance has been suspended, even though I understand that Amnesty International have received reports that not all witnesses to this abduction have been questioned.

I strongly urge you to reopen the investigation into the disappearance of Ibragim Gazdiev, and to do everything within your power to ensure that this investigation progresses in a thorough, impartial and effective manner.  I further ask that a full, thorough, independent and impartial inquiry be conducted into allegations that the armed men who were seen to abduct Ibragim Gazdiev were law enforcement officials.

If Ibragim Gazdiev is found in detention he should be released immediately and unconditionally, unless he is charged with a recognisable criminal offence. I remind you that if Ibragim is being detained he is entitled to the full protection of domestic and international law, which includes immediate access to a lawyer of his choice and to his family.

I further request that all possible steps be taken to ensure that Ibragim Gazdiev’s relatives are not threatened or intimidated for seeking justice.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to urge the authorities to take steps to end violations, including enforced disappearances, committed by security forces in the North Caucasus and ensure that law enforcement agencies operate in full accordance with Russian and international law.

My thanks for your urgent attention to this important case. I look forward to hearing from you.

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