Admin l Wednesday, January 10, 2018
WASHINGTON, U.S – The United States said it is troubled by arrest of the head of Chechen branch office of the Russian human rights NGO Memorial, Oyub Titiev.
In a statement, Spokesperson, Department of State, Heather Nauert, called on Chechen authorities to immediately release Mr. Titiev and allow independent civil society to operate free from harassment and intimidation.
The U.S noted that given well-founded concerns about potential mistreatment of Mr. Titiev in custody, it urged Russian federal authorities to ensure that Mr. Titiev’s rights are protected in accordance with the Russian constitution and Russia’s human rights obligations.
“We are troubled by the news that the head of the local Chechen branch office of the Russian human rights NGO Memorial, Oyub Titiev, has been arrested. This is the latest in a string of reports of alarming recent human rights violations in Chechnya. We call on Chechen authorities to immediately release Mr. Titiev and allow independent civil society to operate free from harassment and intimidation.
“Given well-founded concerns about potential mistreatment of Mr. Titiev in custody, we urge Russian federal authorities to ensure that Mr. Titiev’s rights are protected in accordance with the Russian constitution and Russia’s human rights obligations”, he said.
