PARIS, September 24 (RIA Novosti) - The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Russia to pay 90,000 euros ($132,200) in compensation to the relatives of two people who disappeared in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Chechnya in 2002 and 2003.
The applicants filed suits over the disappearances of their relatives with Russian courts in early 2003, but Russia failed to investigate the cases, the court said in a statement.
Akhmed Rezvanov disappeared in Chechnya's central town of Urus-Martan in December 2002, when he was taken from his home by a group of armed men, who also took household appliances and property.
Ramzan Babushev disappeared in Chechnya's southeastern village of Mahkety in February 2003. He was also detained by a group of armed men. The kidnappers took electrical equipment, jewelry, car components and property.
The Strasbourg court said Russia failed to provide it with the required documentation concerning the cases. The court also said the kidnappers were members of Russia's security services, and ruled that the Russian authorities were guilty of the deaths of the missing people.
The statement said the Russian authorities had infringed several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, and ordered them to pay the victims' relatives 9,500 euros ($14,000) in material damages, 75,000 euros ($111,000) in moral damages, and 5,000 euros (over $7,000) in costs.
Russia has lost the majority of cases brought against it in the Strasbourg-based court. In 2008, the court ruled against Russia 245 times. Overall, around 20% of all complaints made to the court in the past decade have involved Russia.
Earlier this month, the European Court of Human Rights ordered Russia pay 210,000 euros ($309,540) in compensation to the relatives of people who have disappeared or died in Russia's North Caucasus in 2003 and 2004.
In July, the court ordered Russia to pay 39,757 euros ($58,618) in compensation to a Chechen woman whose husband went missing in 2001.
In June, the Strasbourg court ordered Russia to pay 160,000 euros ($224,000) in compensation to the relatives of five Chechens who disappeared in 2001, and 42,600 euros ($59,370) to a prisoner as compensation for his inhumane treatment.
