Earlier, we reported that on April 12, 2012, two former suspected Chechen resistance fighters were arrested on the border of Belarus and Poland. The suspects are still in jail in Brest, Belarus and await their extradition to Russia.

Relatives of one of the suspects, Magomed Maulanovich Akayev, born in 1986 gave a written statement to the Human Rights Organization “Memorial”. According to the statement, armed bandits from the pro-Russian regime in the Russian occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (Kadyrovites) beat, abused and tortured family members for several days to get information on the whereabouts of Magomed Akayev. The brutal violence against the family stopped only when the Kadyrovites became aware of the arrest of Magomed in Belarus. His relatives fear that Magomed will be subjected to far more terrible torture than theirs if he is extradited to Russia.

On March 13, 2012, at 5:00pm about 30 armed Kadyrovites broke down the door and burst into the house which is rented in Grozny by the Akayev family. Magomed’s wife Ayna and his mother Selimat were in the house at the time. The armed men in camouflage uniforms did not explain anything or show any documentation. They started immediately searching the house. They took mobile phones, a laptop and some photos. Without any explanation, the women were taken to the so-called police precinct in the October district. There, Kadyrovites told Selimat that her son and his four friends killed a Kadyrovite on March 12, and then they humiliated the old woman and threatened death for her and all members of her family. A few hours later, Ayna was beaten and tortured with electric shock, and was insulted and threatened with death. While she was there, other members of the Akayev family were taken to the so-called police station: Magomed’s father Maulan Usmanovich Akayev, born in 1948; Magomed’s sisters Zulay Akayeva, born in 1977, Zura Akayeva, born in 1979, and Elmira Akayeva, born in 1984. All of them were insulted and were asked to give the location of Magomed. They said that even if they killed the whole family, nobody would say anything because no one will ever know where Magomed is. Selimat said that on March 12, Magomed and his wife Ayna went back to their house. On that night, Magomed’s friends showed up and he went out with them. Thereafter, he did not return home, and they did not see him again. The family was kept there until 7:00am and then released.

On March 13, 2012, the Kadyrovites went to the home of Magomed’s sister, Zura who was at her sister Liza’s house. She was taking care of her after surgery. When Zura learned about the arrival of the Kadyrovites, she became ill and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Her arrest was stopped by the doctors.

On March 14, 2012, after 9:00pm, Kadyrovites showed up once again and took Zura, Elmira and Selimat to the headquarters of the pro-Russian regime’s Interior Ministry. They were taken to different offices and to extract required information, they stuffed Elmira’s mouth with a handkerchief and used electric shock on her. Selimat heard the screams and demanded they stop the torture, but of course it had no effect. The Kadyrovites threatened to be torture the entire family. One of the young Kadyrovites insulted Elmira and spat in her face. She was unable to stand the torture and finally she confessed that she met with Magomed and gave him his passport the day after the incident. The women were kept there for three hours. Selimat became ill and she was taken to the hospital, Zura and Elmira were with her. At 2:00am, their relatives took them from the hospital.

On March 22, 2012, Maulan took his wife and went to the Republic of Kalmykia. However, early in April 2012, Maulan was forced to return to the Russian occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria at the request of the pro-Russian regime’s authorities. When he returned, he was abducted by Kadyrovites. He was released three days after the detention of Magomed in Belarus.

Zura, Zulay and four other relatives were fired from their jobs in the Itum-Kale district. According to Selimat, they were forced to write a letter of resignation on their own.

“My husband and I, we are old and sick persons, I have diabetes and a sore heart; my husband has a bad heart too. We are afraid even to be at home. We are afraid. I fear also for the life of my son, Magomed. He was not living up to the rules of Kadyrov which means he will be subjected to torture and the entire investigation will not be objective,” wrote Selimat in her statement.

*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco