Alekseeva: although roundtable in Dagestan was a "lumpy pancake" the dialogue should be continued

The meeting of the head of Dagestan Mukhu Aliev with Russian human rights defenders and members of the Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation for Interethnic Relations and Freedom of Conscience on March 10, as well as subsequent public hearings, was not senseless; the time will define the effect thereof. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Liudmila Alekseeva, chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group.

In the opinion of Ms Alekseeva, the good thing with the roundtable was that it was attended by all the republic's bosses, including the President, and at the same - by NGO activists. However, the latter were mainly from "authorities-friendly" organizations. 

Nevertheless, under the request of the delegation, the partners of the Moscow Helsinki Group were admitted, in particular, "Mothers of Dagestan" and the "Relief Fund of Orphans and Disabled Children". According to Liudmila Alekseeva, it was not a breakthrough, as it was all done on the occasion of the arrival of the Public Chamber.

Ms Alekseeva had an ambiguous impression from the voyage: "I was first of all anxious of the 'Mothers of Dagestan' who now have problems, and of the situation with Aishat Magomedova's hospital. We discussed both topics, but I don't quite understand what results we have reached." 

She said that on the Aishat Magomedova's "Charitable Women's Hospital" the court ruled to transfer the premises into state ownership. But the human rights defender asked to provide some other facilities to Aishat. 

President of the republic Mukhu Aliev said that he was ready to do it, but, according to his version, the problem was that Aishat refuses to pay. 

In due time, Aishat Magomedova was granted a ruined house into gratuitous use, and the state did not take part in rebuilding it. For this reason, according to Mr Aliev, Magomedova refuses to pay. However, as President says, there should be at least a symbolical fee, as he has no right to grant state property into gratuitous use.

As to the objectivity of statistics about kidnappings and murders, which was presented by the authorities to the delegation, Ms Alekseeva has explained that official statistics should not be trusted in whatsoever. It cannot be full with independent observers, as not every kidnapping case is reported by those concerned. 

"However, the fact that more militiamen are killed in Dagestan than they kidnap is true," she has stated.

As to operations of local militia, in Alekseeva's opinion, power agents in Dagestan work in the same manner as elsewhere: "They cast a net, and to capture one terrorist they detain a dozen of people. And that they use torture there, it's out of doubt. Consequently, confession of terrorism does not mean that the person was really a terrorist."

Ms Alekseeva assumes that traceless disappearances of kidnapped persons are caused by the fact that some detainees die from torture.

See earlier reports: "Svanidze: public hearings in Dagestan failed to start a dialogue," "Mukhu Aliev: situation with kidnappings in Dagestan grows better," "Members of Russian Public Chamber and human rights activists discuss kidnapping issue in Dagestan."