Justice, Chechen style,

Chechens may be administering ‘justice' now, but the lives of ordinary people still remain at risk from an arbitrary, ruthless system Someone is charged with banditry and sentenced to imprisonment. Chechnya is full of stories like this, and they are almost all the same. They are so common that unless you have the details of the case at hand, the names are easily confused. Once upon a time, someone fought for an illegal armed organization. Or sympathised with one. Or perhaps he wasn't involved at all. He was ‘unmasked' as a rebel, and tortured. Perhaps it wasn't so bad, perhaps he was not actually tortured, just not fed and beaten regularly. Perhaps he confessed to everything, or didn't confess, not even understanding what he was being charged with, before being brought to court and sentenced. Three elements run through all of... [read full story]