URGENT ACTION

MAn abducted in dagestan

Sirazhudin Minatulaevich Shafiev was abducted by masked men in camouflage uniform on 8 September. His whereabouts are unknown and there are fears for his life and safety.

On 8 September, Sirazhudin Minatulaevich Shafiev was driving home in Derbent, Dagestan, after dropping his child at pre-school when two cars blocked the road in front of him. Numerous passers by saw masked men in camouflage uniform run out of the cars and, without identifying themselves, drag Sirazhudin Minatulaevich Shafiev out of his car and force him to get into one of the cars blocking the road. He was then driven away. His whereabouts are unknown.

His wife is deeply concerned for his safety and that his life might be in danger. Their neighbour, with whom her husband spoke from time to time, was abducted in August this year. His body, showing marks of torture, was later shown to his relatives in the local morgue. It was believed that the neighbour might have been targeted for being a follower of an Islamic movement viewed as extremist by the Russian authorities.

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

• Expressing concern for the fate of Sirazhudin Minatulaevich Shafiev;

• urging the Russian authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into his abduction, establishing the fate of Sirazhudin Minatulaevich Shafiev.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 20 OCTOBER 2009 TO: