WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(14 January 2003)

Subject: Death of the Chechen Salman Raduyev in a Russian gaol

On Sunday 15 December 2002 the Russian Ministry of Justice announced the death, at the age of 35, of Salman Raduyev the first of the Chechen commanders

to be arrested, tried and sentenced to life imprisonment for the hostage-taking in Kisljar in 2001 on 14 December 2002 in the infirmary of the White Swan prison in the city of Solikamsk, Siberia (Perm region). It took him several days to die following an internal haemorrhage caused, according to Russian sources, by old war wounds which had never completely healed.

On Monday, 16 December, an article in the Russian newspaper Kommersant, reproduced in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, reported statements made anonymously by prison staff, according to which Raduyev was said, by his cell-mate, to have been beaten to death after having opposed a surprise search of his cell by his guards. Salman Raduyev was one of the witnesses whose testimony was used to back the Russian Justice Ministry's request to Denmark and Great Britain for the arrest and extradition of Akhmed Zakaiev. Raduyev allegedly claimed that Zakaiev had taken part personally in kidnappings and terrorist acts. In the same article the Kommersant suggested an interpretation of events according to which Raduyev might have been forced to testify against Zakaiev and then been eliminated.

Is the Commission aware of these allegations and if so, how did it react? What official steps does it intend to take to ensure that light is thrown on the real circumstances of Mr Raduyev's death? More generally, how does the Commission rate Russia's ability to fulfil the duties of a constitutional state?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2003)

The Commission is aware of the death of the convicted Chechen Salman Raduyev in prison in Solikamsk in December last. It is also aware of certain allegations surrounding Mr Raduyev's death and it hopes that these will be investigated in a prompt, independent and impartial manner. The Commission calls for all such allegations to be forwarded to the relevant Russian authorities, including Duma Human Rights Ombudsman Mironov, for investigation. The findings of such an investigation should certainly be made public. The Commission will follow developments in this matter closely.

The Commission underlines that the implementation of shared values in the fields of democracy and human rights underpin the EU-Russia Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation and are key elements in the EU-Russia partnership. The Commission will, therefore, continue to raise the issue of respect for human rights within the framework of the EU's bilateral political dialogue with the Russian Federation.

It is also important to recall that the Commission promotes respect for human rights and democracy in Russia through a number of projects that are financed under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. These activities are implemented in cooperation with civil society and international organisations such as the Council of Europe. The Tacis programme is also active in this domain.