The CPT's delegation examined the current situation as regards the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the Chechen Republic; it also followed up various issues raised in the report on its two visits to the North Caucasus in February/March and April 2000.
The visit was carried out by Zdenĕk HÁJEK, a Czech lawyer (Head of delegation), Ole Vedel RASMUSSEN, a Danish medical doctor, and Derrick POUNDER, a British forensic doctor. They were assisted by two members of the CPT's Secretariat, Trevor STEVENS (Executive Secretary) and Petya NESTOROVA.
The delegation held discussions with Lieutenant General V.P. BARANOV, Commander in Chief of the Allied Group of Armed Forces, Mr V.G. CHERNOV, Acting Prosecutor of the Chechen Republic, and Mr A.F. BIBIKOV, Military Prosecutor of the Allied Group of Armed Forces. It also had talks with members of the local administrations in Argun, Kurĉaloj, Šatoj and Urus-Martan. Further, the delegation paid a visit to the Znamenskoe Office of the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for ensuring human rights and civil rights and freedoms in the Chechen Republic, and met representatives of the non-governmental organisation, Memorial.
The delegation visited the following places where persons deprived of their liberty may be held:
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Argun
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Goudermes
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Ocktyabrskyi District, Grozny
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Kurčaloj
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Šatoj
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Urus-Martan
- Convoy Unit of the Ministry of Justice, Khankala Base of the Allied Group of Armed Forces
- SIZO No. 2, Chernokozovo.
The delegation also visited the main hospitals in Argun, Kurčaloj, Šatoj and Urus-Martan as well as the Forensic Bureau of the Chechen Republic (located at Clinical Hospital No.9 in Grozny).
At the end of the visit, the delegation held consultations with the Russian authorities.