Chechen police are reportedly torturing suspects in a new crackdown on illegal drugs

A new investigative report by Republic (formerly known as Slon) has revealed that the Chechen police are torturing suspects in their expanding crackdown on the use of illegal drugs, forcing people to confess. In one region, in August alone, police apparently detained several dozen suspected drug users.

In a pattern that has emerged in previous reports about Chechnya’s persecution of gay men and potential insurgents, sources say Chechen police are detaining people and threatening them with terrorism charges if they don’t confess and name other suspects. 

Republic also learned that the Chechen authorities have tortured suspects with electric shocks. Chechnya’s Interior Ministry says it’s received no formal complaints about a police crackdown on illegal drug use.

According to official data, Chechen police recorded 507 drug crimes in 2017 and opened 304 criminal cases, 213 of which were prosecuted.

In August 2017, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced the creation of a special response team to fight the spread of illegal drugs, appointing a relative to head up the operation.

On January 9, 2018, Chechen police detained human rights activist Oyub Titiyev, claiming that they discovered 180 grams of marijuana in his car. If convicted, he faces 10 years in prison. Titiyev, who heads the Chechen branch of the organization “Memorial,” maintains his innocence. On January 16, he wrote a public letter addressed to President Vladimir Putin, Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin, and Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov, insisting that the drugs were planted in his vehicle.