Zelimkhan Murdalov, a 26-year-old student, has not been seen since 2001, when he was detained in Chechnya in the Russian Federation.

Zelimkhan Murdalov was detained on 2 January 2001 in the Oktiabrskii district of the Chechen capital, Grozny, on suspicion of possession of illegal drugs. Members of his family went to the police station several times, but were refused entry. On 5 January, staff at the police station claimed that Zelimkhan Murdalov had been released that morning.

On 29 March 2005, the Oktiabrskii District Court found that a member of a special federal riot police unit (OMON), Sergei Lapin, who was on secondment to Chechnya from the Khanty-Mansiisk region, had punched, kicked and beaten Zelimkhan Murdalov with a rubber baton over several hours in the Oktiabrskii district police station. He was given electric shocks and witnesses told the court that when he was taken to his cell, Zelimkhan Murdalov could hardly stand and lost consciousness several times. His arm was broken, his ear torn, and he was concussed and suffered life-threatening head injuries. The court also found that on the following day police officers from the Oktiabrskii district police station took Zelimkhan Murdalov away in a car.

The court found Lieutenant Sergei Lapin guilty of involvement in the torture of Zelimkhan Murdalov. He is serving a sentence of 10 and a half years’ imprisonment. However, no one has been found guilty of his enforced disappearance. A commander and a lower-ranking officer identified as also involved in the torture and enforced disappearance of Zelimkhan Murdalov were placed on the federal wanted list in February 2006. But over four years later, there has been no progress in establishing their whereabouts.

Zelimkhan Murdalov’s parents have campaigned extensively for justice for their son, and have been harassed and intimidated for doing so. It was largely due to their efforts that Sergei Lapin was put on trial. But subsequently, Zelimkhan Murdalov’s mother and sister had to leave the country for their own safety. His father, Astemir Murdalov, stayed in Russia and continues to wait for news of what has happened to his son.

Sign the petition to the President of the Russian Federation, asking him to:

• establish what happened to Zelimkhan Murdalov, and to keep his family informed of the progress of any investigation.

• take all necessary steps to establish the whereabouts of the two police officers identified as involved in the torture and enforced disappearance of Zelimkhan Murdalov and bring them to justice.