URGENT ACTION

Five men in Russian federation abducted

On 23 August, five men were abducted in the republic of Dagestan, Russian Federation. The whereabouts of three of the men remains unknown.

Islam Askerov,was abducted on 23 August by unknown men in civilian dress from a street near his home in Dagestan. His abductors hit him on the back of the head, put a sack over his head and forced him into a car. He was then taken to an unknown location. Male cousins Arsen Butaevand Artur Butaevwere abducted later the same day.

The abductors blocked the street the cousins were driving on, in Makhachkala (capital of Dagestan) with a white van. Without identifying themselves they demanded at gun point that the two men got out of their car and that they lie face-down on the ground. The abductors then put bags over the two men's heads. The two men were then put in the van and taken to a building in an unknown location where they were detained for several hours.

The three men were interrogated with the sacks still on their heads. During the interrogations they were beaten and strangled. They were forced to confess to being members of illegal armed groups. They were then taken away in the same vehicle although there were two other men, Gadzhi Gudalievand Amiraslan Islamovalready in the van, the details of whose abduction are not known.

All five men were taken beyond the airport of Makhachkala. Their hands were tied with sticky tape and plastic bags put over their heads, they were then put in the cousins' car. The captors then released chloroform into the vehicle, poured petrol over it and then placed an explosive device inside before they left the scene. Islam Askerov and Arsen Butaevwere able to free their hands and threw the explosive device out of the car before fleeing. The device exploded and was heard by the abductors who then returned to the cousins' car and chased them. Islam Askerov and Arsen Butaevfled safely and were able to phone for help. Their relatives went to where the car and the three other men had been but they only found pieces of sticky tape and a telephone belonging to one of the abductees. The whereabouts of Artur Butaev, Galzhi Gudaliev and Amiraslan Islamov remains unknown.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Russian, English or your own language:

• Expressing concern for the fate of Artur Butaev, Galzhi Gudaliev and Amiraslan Islamov;

• urging the authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into the abduction of the men, establishing the fate of the three and if found, release them if they are not charged with a recognizable criminal offence;

• calling on the authorities, to bring anyone found responsible for this crime to justice and to ensure the protection of Islam Askerov and Arsen Butaev.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 07 October 2009 TO: