“As If They Fell From the Sky” Counterinsurgency, Rights Violations, and Rampant Impunity in Ingushetia

Map of Region

I. Summary

II. Recommendations

To the Government of the Russian Federation

To Russia’s International Partners

To the Council of Europe

III. Methodology

IV. Background: How the Conflict in Ingushetia Has Unfolded

Note on Ingushetia

Crisis Spillover to Crisis Nexus: The Unfolding Conflict in Ingushetia

General Characteristics of Insurgents in Ingushetia, Links to Chechnya

V. Domestic Legal Framework for Counterterrorism

2006 Norms

Structure of Counterterrorism Operations

Other Laws Amended by Counterterrorism Legislation

VI. Extrajudicial Executions

Killing of Islam Belokiev

Killing of Apti Dalakov

Killing of Rakhim Amriev, age 6

Killing of Said-Magomed Galaev and Ruslan Galaev

Killing of Khusein Mutaliev

Killing of Adam Gardanov and Magamed Chakhkiev

Attempted killing of Adam Malsagov

VII. Abductions, Enforced Disappearances, and Torture

Abductions and Enforced Disappearances

Abductions and Torture

Abductions

VIII. Special Operations Involving Cruel and Degrading Treatment

Sweep operation, Gairbek-Yurt

Targeted raid, Ordzhonikidzevskaya

Targeted raid, Surkhakhi

Sweep operation, Ali-Yurt

IX. Public Protests and Response of the Authorities

Evolution of the Protest Movement in Ingushetia

Government Efforts to Restrict Public Protests

Acknowledgments