In each case, the Chechen family involved first appealed to the Russian courts over the disappearance of relatives between 2000 and 2003, but turned to the Strasbourg court after concluding the Russian justice system was unable to investigate the crimes properly.
All three cases are similar in that the missing men were taken from their homes in Chechnya by armed men in combat fatigues never heard from again. One victim was abducted in January 2000, two in December 2002, and another two in January 2003.
Based on the information it obtained and the absence of evidence to the contrary, the European Court ruled that all the abductions were carried out by Russian servicemen during special operations and the victims should be considered deceased.
In the January 2000 case, the court also declared that Russian servicemen burned down the family home of the victim and torched their car.
The court stated that the Russian government did not do enough in its investigations to explain the disappearance of the Chechens in the first two cases, and in the third, were not able to prove the reason for the use of force that lead to the deaths.
The court ruled Russia should pay 61,500 euros to the claimants in material damages, 175,000 euros in moral damages and 10,600 euros in court costs. The ruling comes into effect in three months if neither side appeals.
