The London-based European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) is to bring the first cases filed by Chechens at the European Court of Human Rights against the Russian government in relation to the current conflict, it announced last week. The EHRAC and Russian-based human rights organisation Memorial will represent six applicants alleging breaches of human rights at a hearing in September.

The applicants are claiming breaches of the right to life, the prohibition of torture and degrading treatment, and the right to an effective remedy. Two cases concern allegations of torture and extra-judicial execution of relatives by Russian armed forces, and four relate to death and injury which the applicants claim was caused by the indiscriminate bombing of civilians.


EHRAC director Philip Leach said: ‘This is very significant, because these are the first cases in which Russia has been called to account in the international court over what is going on in Chechnya. We are acting in 30 other such cases, and many others have already been lodged with the court. There are likely to be more to come.’