Book on War Crimes Presented in Grozny

Alexander Cherkasov, presented his book, “Fates Unknown,” which documents abductions and killings by security forces during the Second Chechen War, in Grozny Friday, Caucasian Knot reported.

The book centers on 384 residents of Chechnya who were detained by federal agents and were later killed or -- in the case of 187 of them – were never seen again.

Aidini Idalova, who attended the event, told the Caucasian Knot that her sons were abducted and by those who “now sit in power” and that she had been pressured to drop her claims against the government.

“We, mothers of missing people, are insulted and persecuted here in every possible way. I myself was repeatedly threatened, and after I lodged a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, they took me and kept me in custody for a month, demanding that I recall the complaint and say that my sons were militants, and in our yard, allegedly, a cache of weapons was found," she told the Caucasian Knot.

"Today, everyone says that Grozny was rebuilt; that here we see beautiful high-rise buildings, paved streets and so on,” she said. “Why do I need it all, even if the streets were of gold, if I have nobody left? I have nothing left; and I have no fear – I have nothing more to lose."