Chechnya’s Kadyrov declares probe into raid against human rights group’s office

A probe has been launched in Chechnya’s capital Grozny into Wednesday’s attack against the office of the human rights organization Committee against Torture.

"Law enforcement agencies are conducting an investigation into the incident at the committee’s office. Proper legal measures are to be taken on the basis of their findings," Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov said.

"Any unlawful action, whatever the motives behind it, is impermissible and will be stopped," he added.

The committee’s head, Igor Kalyapin, earlier told TASS that some committee members were attacked in Grozny. He said a crowd forced its way into the entrance to the apartment building where the Committee against Torture rented an office. "The activists locked up themselves inside the apartment, but the attackers used heavy hammers in an attempt to force the door open."

"When it became clear that the steel door was about to give in, the activists jumped out of the window from the second floor and started running towards a police office," Kaliapin said, adding that there had been four persons inside.

The head of the Russian presidential committee for civil society and human rights, Mikhail Fedotov, has been informed about the attack, he said.

A member of the civil society and human rights council at the office of the Chechen leader, Kheda Saratova, has said on a radio station in Moscow on Wednesday that in her opinion Chechnya’s authorities, including the Interior Ministry, had nothing to do with the incident at all. "On the contrary, investigative measures are being taken. Several suspects have been detained," Saratova said.

Chechnya’s civil society and human rights council will meet in session soon to discuss the attack against the office of the Committee against Torture.