The European Court of Human Rights has once again found Russia guilty of breaching the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, this time concerning the illegal detention and killing of three Chechens in the winter of 2000 near the Chechen capital, Grozni.

On December 10, 2000, Russian troops detained 21 people, 18 of whom were later released after being interrogated and - in some cases - beaten by the Russian military. The bodies of the three remaining detainees were found on February 21, 2001 with gunshot and knife wounds.

According to Caucasian Knot, the Strasbourg court ruled that Russia had breached the following rights: "the right to life in relation to missing people; the Russian authorities failed to conduct an efficient investigation of disappearances; illegal detention; the attitude of state bodies to applicants' complaints was classified as inhuman treatment, as well as deprivation of efficient legal defence to the applicants; and refusal to cooperate with the Court."

Further information:

• Caucasian Knot:Chechen residents win trial at European Court on Human Rights
• Nationalia: European Court of Human Rights says Russia responsible for Chechen disappearances