By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, United Kingdom – During the trial of nine men who are accused of offences including rape, trafficking, and child prostitution, a young women revealed that when she was 12 years old, she was branded with the one man’s initials so other men would know she “belonged” to him.

The jury learned that the young woman, now 19 and who remains nameless, was sold to Mohammed Karrar as an 11-year-old. She told the court she was also brutally raped by various men until she was 15.

Appearing to the jury through videolink, the young women cried as she stated that Karrar struck her with a baseball bat after she threatened him with a knife after he forced her to have sex.

She said, “At the time, I thought he loved me and it was a mistake he made. I thought it was my own fault that I threatened him with a knife.”

She continued, “I was at home with Mo [Mohammed Karrar]. We had a slight argument and I think we had sex, and afterwards, the hairpin, he scraped the paint off and lit it. He bent it into a letter “M”. After heating it for a little while, he stuck it on my bum … so it would say ‘Mo’.”

The girl believed she was branded “so that people knew that I was his if I ever had sex with someone else.”

However, the girl also explained that Karrar, despite branding her, would take her to hotels and private properties to serve drink, drugs and provide sex services. Her abusers would speak in different languages and laugh at her. She said there were at least 15 men at the parties, and the parties would happen up to four times a week.

Furthermore, the child was forced to participate in “weird fantasies” and was sexually assaulted with knife handles and meat cleavers. If the girl refused, the two men would go “mad”. The witness said, “If I kicked off, I would be restrained.” Lastly, the men would pay Karrar when everything was finished.

Mohammed Karrar, 38, and Bassam Karrar, 32, are amongst nine men currently on trial for 51 sex and drugs charges. The men deny the 51 counts, including rape and trafficking from 2004 to 2012.

For further information, please see:

BBC – Oxford Exploitation Trial: Girl ‘Branded with Hairpin’ – 22 February 2013

The Guardian – Oxford Child Abuse Trial: Women Says She was Branded at Age of 12 – 22 February 2013

The Independent – Sex Gang Leader ‘Brand Girl Slave, 12, with a Heated Hairpin’ – 22 February 2013

Oxford Mail – Teenager “Branded” by Alleged Abuser, Old Bailey Hears – 22 February 2013

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MINSK, Belarus – Last November, authorities in Vitsebsk, Belarus arrested Andrei Haidukou, 23, an opposition activist, on suspicion of espionage activity.  In the months since then, the government has failed to bring forth evidence of the alleged spying, and yet Haidukou’s family is not permitted to see him and his attorney has repeatedly been denied access to him since December.

The Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) claims that Haidukou “gathered and passed political and economic information on the instructions of a foreign intelligence agency,” possibly the U.S. C.I.A., and was caught making a dead drop.  Haidukou, a mechanic at the Naftan Oil refinery, has been charged with “state treachery in the form of intelligence activities”–high treason–under Article 356, Part 1 of the Criminal Code, which carries a sentence of 7 to 15 years in prison.

However, Haidukou, supported by fellow activists, has written that the charges are “huge falsifications” and an attempt by the KGB to pressure him because of his civil activities.  In addition to having been detained before for his part in silent protests, and receiving threats from plainclothes policemen, in the days before his arrest, Haidukou was preparing documents to officially register the non-governmental organization (NGO) “Union of Young Intellectuals”.

Haidukou is the deputy Chairperson of the Union of Young Intellectuals, and according to the Chairperson Jauhien Kanstancinau, “Andrei dealt with all issues concerning the registration. If he hadn’t been arrested, in two weeks we could pass documents for registration.”  Kanstancinau describes the Young Intellectuals, which was established three years ago, as “an international organization” and “[a] social and cultural organi[z]ation. Our primary task is to be a platform for creation of a party of intellectuals.”  It is possible Haidukou’a arrest is intended to intimidate other youth activists.

Since his arrest, Haidukou has inexplicably been transferred between prisons in Vitsebsk and Minsk several times.  His family reported that they were restricted from obtaining information on his location.

Hanna Shaputska, coordinator of the civil initiative “For Liberty” has also denounced the charges against Haidukou. “[T]hree months have passed since the arrest and everything what is happening started [sic] looking like a farce, another wave of reprisals against civil activists and oppositionists.”  She added “Andrei Haidukou can be considered as a political prisoner.”

Another member of the Youth Intellectuals, Illia Bahdanau, and also a member of the unregistered opposition party Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD), was detained by the KGB together with Haidukou.  However, Bahdanau was released soon after questioning at night and managed to return home via hitchhiking.  He remains a suspect.

Until the 11^th of February, Haidukou’s counsel had been prevented from meeting with him since December.  Although the KGB had authorized meetings, every time Haidukou’s attorney attempted to meet with his client in the last two months, he was turned away from the prison, with excuse such as “there are no free rooms.”  However, according to Haidukou’s mother, the February 11^th meeting lasted several hours, from 10 a.m. through the evening.

“Human Rights Activists against Torture” expressed concern that the denial of a lawyer to a client in jail could be a sign of the use of torture and sent an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur.

It should be noted that Belarus’s Constitution guarantees the right of unimpeded confidential meetings with a lawyer, with no restrictions on the frequency or duration of such.

In response to the long denial of an attorney, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and The Human Rights Center “Viasna” called for greater transparency in Haidukou’s case and others, expressing concern that there may be violations in procedure affecting the defendants’ rights, his or her health condition and other similar information, and that the public should be provided with greater information.

The KGB has extended the investigation into Haidukou’s case for an additional month.

Haidukou’s mother, Volha Haidukova, remains uncomprehending at what has happened to her son.  “We knew that he was opposition-minded and his activities were disliked by the authorities … Andrei was also telling us he didn’t do anything illegal. As it can be seen from his letters, he was totally bewildered with such development of the events,” she said.  Volha further lamented “I wasn’t allowed to meet with him and haven’t received any telephone. The only thing left to me is to write letters.”

For further information, please see:

Chapter’97 – Human rights activists demand publicity over Haidukou’s case – 20 February 2013

Viasna – Counsel Finally Allowed to Meet with Andrei Haidukou at the KGB Prison – 12 February 2013

Viasna – Counsel Not Allowed to Meet Andrei Haidukou Again – 11 February 2013

Viasna – Andrei Haidukou’s Mother: We Cannot Understand What is Really Done to Our Son – 8 February 2013

Viasna – “Spy” Haidukou’s Friend Interrogated at KGB Again – 11 January 2013

Chapter’97 –UN Special Rapporteur Informed About Torture of Haidukou – 5 January 2013

European Association of Independent Journalists – KGB Reveals Foreign Spy — Mechanic, Activist of Dubious Union of Young Intellectuals – 14 November 2012

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe 

MOSCOW, Russia – Yesterday, Russia pushed forward with the posthumous prosecution of a whistleblowing lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, for tax evasion charges.

Magnitsky, whose name titled a new U.S. law that punishes alleged human rights abusers, died in 2009 during his stay in a Moscow pretrial detention facility. Magnitsky was jailed and charged with tax evasion after he accused high-ranking Russian officials of a multimillion-dollar embezzlement.

Despite an attempt by Magnitsky’s relatives to block a trial they believe is “inhuman and politically motivated”, a Moscow Tverskoi District Court judge ordered the appointment of a state sanctioned lawyer to represent and give ‘legal advice’ to deceased Sergei Magnitsky.

The next scheduled hearing is for the judge to determine if Magnitsky has been ‘properly notified’ of the trial and if Magnitsky provided the prosecutor with ‘confirmation of notification in writing.’

A Hermitage Capital representative stated, “The fact that this posthumous trial is going ahead, indicates that justice in Russia is turning into raw and out­right blasphemy. The only place where a notice to Sergei Magnitsky can be delivered is to his grave at the Preobrazhenskoye cemetery, and any written confirmation would need to be obtained from his corpse. There is a special place in hell for the people organizing this.”

Amnesty International believes Magnitsky’s trial is “a whole new chapter in Russia’s worsening human rights record” and is a “sinister attempt to deflect attention from those who committed the crimes he exposed”. In addition, the trial violates his human rights even in death, denying him “in particular the right to defend himself in person.”

Magnitsky’s mother, Natalia Magnitsky, sincerely requested that all Moscow lawyers boycott any requests from the court to participate in the trial as state appointed lawyers.

In her statement, she stated, “The reopening of a prosecution against my dead son without my consent and without the consent of other close relatives and against their will, is contrary to the aims and the legal meaning of the judgment of the Russian Constitutional Court… It distorts its legal purpose, violates the constitutional rights of my son, and especially in light of recent international events, is politically motivated.”

Natalia Magnitsky continued, “With the help of my son, crimes of persons occupying high positions in govern­ment were exposed, and because of these crimes, those officials have become enormously rich. These individuals, especially at the present time, are interested to compromise my son. With this purpose, they have organized this posthumous prosecution in order to obtain a knowingly unjust judgment and posthumously defame the honest name of my son.”

Conversely, lawyer, Mark Feigin, said he was interested in finding Magnitsky guilty because it would offer some vindication for the officials who were accused of embezzlement. Furthermore, lawyer, Anna Stayitskaya stated, “The purpose of the case is to acknowledge Magnitsky’s guilt and demonstrate to the world that it is defending a guilty person and the Magnitsky Act was a mistake. But Russia doesn’t understand that no one will believe the court’s decision.”

For further information, please see:

Law and Order In Russia – ‘Blasphemous’ Posthumous Trial Against Magnitsky Begins with the Forced Appointment of a State Sanctioned Lawyer to Magnitsky – 18 February 2013

The Guardian — Dead Russian Lawyer to go on Trial Next Month — 18 February 2013

The Moscow Times – Magnitsky Hearing Put Off for 2 Weeks – 18 February 2013

Reuters – Russian Court Rejects Attempt to Block Dead Lawyer’s Trial – 18 February 2013

The Independent – Russia Set for Posthumous Magnitsky Trial – 17 February 2013

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – Alexei Mayorov, the head of the Moscow City Government Regional Security Department, announced that a volunteer patrol force will be created to assist the Federal Migration Service (FMS) with enforcing immigration rules in Moscow. The volunteer groups will participate in city patrols, check documents and detain illegal immigrants together with FMS officers.

Moscow City Hall reported that in 2012, the number of illegal immigrants extracted from the city increased by 150 percent. However, today, there are still around 200,000 to 300,000 illegal residents in Moscow.

While more than 300 people have already applied to the volunteer patrol group, Moscow authorities desire a total of 600 volunteers to help patrol for illegal immigrants throughout the city. Volunteers wear special red uniforms and patrol every neighborhood.

Russian officials maintain that patrol squad members are carefully screened and trained. Furthermore, aggressive individuals and ultranationalist are rejected.

Volunteers are authorized to search for illegal migrants at markets, construction and industrial sites, railways stations, shopping centers, and private apartments. Patrols will distribute handouts to immigrants with instructions and a list of documents required to obtain legal status.

Olga Kirillova, head of Moscow’s Migration Service, explained that only inspectors have the  authority to bring immigrants before the law. The police volunteers are manpower. She states, “Sometimes, it’s necessary to catch a violator who tries to run.”

However, rights advocates are nonetheless opposed to this new squad. Most human rights activists fear “aggressive-minded” people will join the patrol and will increase Russia’s anti-foreigner mood.

Svetlana Gannushkina, a prominent human rights campaigner specializing in migrants’ rights, stated, “I’m very upset by the rise of xenophobia that I observe in the city and in the country. These raids will be conducted not by law enforcement organs but by ordinary citizens, and I can just imagine what kind of enthusiasts will participate. They will bring nothing but more xenophobia, abuse, and divisions in society.”

She continued, “”Who has the right to detain people? You need very serious reasons to detain people, even police officers don’t always have the authority to do it. And now it is bestowed to random and probably aggressive people. No one has the right to deprive people of their freedom, to grab them in the street and drag them somewhere. What are we turning into? This is simply monstrous.”

Gavkhar Dzhurayeva, head of the Migration and Law information legal center, said,  “This is not a struggle against immigration but a manhunt. I back the idea of patrols, but volunteers should be trained to speak with immigrants in a civil manner. There must be certain ethics in communication, which are now absent.”

For further information, please see:

RFE/RL — Volunteer Squads Chase Illegal Migrants In Russia – 18 February 2013

RIA Novosti – Volunteer Patrols to Battle Illegal Immigration – 13 February 2013

Russia & India REPORT – Moscow to Hire Volunteers for Immigration Patrol – 13 February 2013

RIA Novosti – Moscow to Set Up Volunteer Patrol to Enforce Immigration Law – 12 February 2013

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ODESSA, Ukraine – Last January, an alleged plot to assassinate then prime minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin was exposed when an apartment in Odessa Ukraine exploded.  Chechen native and British-educated Adam Osmayev, 31, was arrested and charged with plotting to blow up Putin’s motorcade.  At the time of his arrest, Osmayev confessed.  However, analysts and opposition figures long dismissed the plot was a mere ploy to boost Putin’s ratings before the critical presidential election.  With his case now before a Ukrainian court, Osmayev has retracted his confession and testimony, alleging that he was tortured and harm to his family threatened if he failed to cooperate.

Osmayev related his version of events to the British newspaper, The Independent, and to the Ukrainian court.  Osmayev says that he was at the apartment of two acquaintances when he smelled gas before an explosion ripped through the house.  He denies knowing the other two men another Chechen called Ruslan Madayev, and a Kazakh citizen called Ilya Pyanzin very well, and assets that there was never any assassination plot.

Nevertheless, Osmayev, having entered Ukraine on a false passport, fled the scene of the explosion and was forcefully arrested later.  Madayev was killed in the explosion and Pyanzin was arrested on site.

Describing his arrest, Osmayev recalled, “When they broke into the flat to arrest me, they put me face down on the floor.  I wasn’t resisting, but they put handcuffs on me with my hands behind my back, and started beating me, on the back of the head, and with guns.”  He said that experience was nothing compared to what he would have experienced had he failed to cooperate.

During his interrogation, Osmayev alleges that authorities continued to beat and torture him.  He claims during the interrogation his ribs were cracked, he was injected him with a narcotic substances, and he was threatened with physical mutilation.  At one point, Osmayev claims, “[T]hey covered my head with a plastic bag. They told me they had my father and stepmother as hostages, and they would be arrested if I didn’t confess.”

Osmayev further claims that his interrogators threatened to hand him over to Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya’s ruthless Kremlin-backed leader, if he did not confess to the plot against Putin.  By then, Osmayev says “I was ready to admit to anything, even plotting to kill the Pope. Because what Kadyrov does is well known to the world. More than anything I was worried about my father. He had a heart attack a few years ago and I was more worried for him that I was for myself.”

Osmayev’s father, Aslanbek Osmayev has expressed a belief that his son was targeted because of Aslanbek’s former involvement in the Chechen oil industry and a dispute with Ramzan Kadyrov.  Aslanbek claims, “They couldn’t get to me so they went for Adam.  There wasn’t an ounce of truth in [earlier allegations against Aslanbek], and there is no truth in these latest ones, either. . . I think it is partly personal revenge against me, and partly it was an attempt to please superiors with a ‘convenient’ terrorist plot just before the elections.”

Osmayev’s wife, Anina Okuyeva, who also claims she has received anonymous threats that she would be put in a mental asylum if she publicly criticized the case against her husband, read a statement on his behalf Thursday before a court session: “The testimony was given as a consequence of physical and psychological pressure, placed on me by security services from the moment of my detention: During the examination of the case, I took back, in written form, all of the testimony given earlier and demanded an examination of the fact of torture. Considering all these given facts, in accordance with Article 63 of the Constitution of Ukraine, I am forced to refuse to give an explanation in the court session. I ask you to enter this statement into the case file.”

Moscow attempted but failed to have Osmayev extradited to Russia.  He appealed to the European Court of Human Rights and a Ukraine court suspended the extradition.  However, alleged co-conspirator Ilya Pyanzin was extradited to Russia in August.  Osmayev has since renounced his Russian citizenship and applied for refugee status in Georgia and Finland.

Even so, if the Ukraine court convicts him of the charge: “To carry out a terrorist act with the aim of the elimination of the head of the government of the Russian Federation, V. V. Putin,” Osmayev will face up to a 15-year prison sentence.  After Thursday’s hearing, the judge adjourned the case until mid-March.

Osmayev’s lawyer, Olga Chertok, who works independently out of a small office in a shabby Odessa courtyard, has denounced the prosecutor’s case as full of inconsistencies.  Known for usually taking on corporate raiding cases Chertok says authorities tried to keep her away from the Osmayev case because, “They wanted a pliant lawyer, and they knew that wasn’t me.”  Since taking on the case, Chertok has noticed she has been followed and suspects that her telephone has been bugged.

Nevertheless, she remains undeterred.  “There’s not a single piece of evidence that implicates [Osmayev] in any way.”  She explains that she believes the home-made explosive devices were planted in order to give Putin a PR edge before elections.

In Russia, the events of the alleged assassination attempt were not released until February, a week before the Russian presidential election.  News outlets claimed the three men had been caught making bombs from saltpetre, aluminum powder and other substances when one of them accidentally went off.  A computer found in the apartment, alleged to belong to Osmayev, contained internet history of bomb-making websites, and also of video footage of Putin’s motorcade route.  Named as the main organizer, film of Osmayev, his face covered with cuts and bruise, was shown admitting that “the plan was to go to Moscow and carry out an attack on Putin”.

Andrei Soldatov, a security analyst pointed out, “Putin is perhaps the best protected leader in the world.  Attacking his motorcade is unrealistic, he travels much faster than any Western leader would be able to as the streets are always cleared of all other cars before his motorcade arrives.” Some analysts have also noted that assassination attempts have long been a favorite ploy of leaders attempting to demonstrate their own importance.

Osmayev says that although he is a devout Muslim, he has never been interested in radical Islam or terrorism. “I was educated in Britain, I feel like a very European person,” he says. “I don’t believe in terrorism, I believe in freedom of speech and human rights. That’s why I’m against Kadyrov in Chechnya. I have never been involved in any kind of terrorism.”

For further information, please see:

RIA Novosti – Putin Murder Plot Suspect Testifies, Alleges Torture – 14 February 2013

The Independent – Chechen Links Vladimir Putin Plot Trial to Row with Ramzan Kadyrov – 13 February 2013

The Telegraph – Chechen Man Educated in Cotswolds to go on Trial over Putin Plot – 13 February 2013

The Independent – Adam Osmayev: the Public Schoolboy and a Plot to Kill Vladimir Putin – 8 February 2013

RIA Novosti – Putin Death Plot Suspect Retracts Testimony, Claims Torture – 17 January 2013

The Moscow Times – Putin Assassination Plot Suspect Retracts Testimony, Alleges Torture – 18 January 2013