| YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin asked Alexander Bastyrkin,
Chair of the Investigative Committee at the Public Prosecutor's
Office of the Russian Federation, to take under his personal
control investigation of a killing of civilians on the Chechen-Ingush
border during special operation on February 11 – 12, 2010.
“The investigation conducted on February 13 – 14 by the Memorial
human rights centre showed that the versions worded by the
officials – that civilians had been used by the militants
as a human shield and died because of the air-to-ground attack
– were incorrect,” ran the letter.
“Due to the fact that such versions were offered by the top
officials of the Republic of Ingushetia, I think that investigation
of the circumstances of the killing should be investigated
by the central office of the Investigative Committee at the
Public Prosecutor's Office,” Mitrokhin stressed.
At least 70 local civilians engaged in agricultural works
turned out to be in the area of a special operation. The authorities
had the information about their work in the area, as they
had given a special permit for agricultural works to the local
residents there, however, the officials did not take measures
so that to evacuate people to a safe place. At least four
persons were killed. According to the Memorial’s data they
were gunned at a short range and possibly fired “insurance”
shots afterwards.
See also:
Human
Rights
The
Situation in the Northern Caucasus
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