Filtration Camps
As a consequence of the transition of the Soviet Union to current day Russia, conflict between the independent state of Chechnya has arisen. During the second Chechen War, in which Chechnya is fighting to gain independence from Russia, the country has been primarily impacted by the implementation of “filtration camps” in Chechnya. Patrick Cockburn describes the filtration camp situation in Chechnya, saying “for months, thousands of Chechens of all ages, but mostly young men, have been detained by the Russian forces in Chechnya, without anybody being able to find out what has happened to them. Attempts by relatives to contact family members inside Chernokozovo and other prisons have largely failed” (“Chechen website says Russians killed about 300 people in chemical experiments”). In another filtration camp in Mozdok, it has been reported by Abu Musayev, the head of the special department under the State Defense Committee of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, that 62 hostages are alive but in a secret location (“Chechen website says Russians killed about 300 people in chemical experiments”). Although there are about 1,000 people in certain camps in Chechnya, there are is still hope when hearing that Russian soldiers have kept captured people alive.
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In one of the filtration camps in Chernokozovo, there is estimated to be 1,000 hostages, and in the span of only two weeks, 32 have been killed. (“Chechen website says Russians killed about 300 people in chemical experiments”).
courtesy of Pexels
courtesy of Pexels
courtesy of Pexels
Often, the occupants of these filtration camps are severely injured, and when they finally escape the confines of the camp, the stories they tell of their experiences are truly gut-wrenching. For example, Umar Khanbiyev, a prisoner held captive by Russian forces, created a list of what the is happening to captives within the walls of these Russian filtration camps. Occurring at the majority of the filtration camps in Chechnya, people are killed because of their size, ethnic origin, religious and political affiliations (“Chechen rebel health minister details Russian torture methods”). Furthermore, many people are dying by chemical and bacteriological weapons, vacuum and incendiary bombs, and mass executions and torture without trial (“Chechen rebel health minister details Russian torture methods”). With certain torture methods, Russian soldier aim to “end people's reproductive functions,” (“Chechen rebel health minister details Russian torture methods”). Most of all, the Soldiers who are controlling these concentration camps have created a system where family members can buy their relatives’ corpses directly from the filtration camps (“Chechen rebel health minister details Russian torture methods”). For reasons that are beyond the control of these captives, such as physical looks, innocent people are being severely punished.
Umar Khanbiyev’s account reveals the overriding problem plaguing Chechen society, an ailing economy. Umar Khanbiyev’s experience has helped him reach the conclusion that the war between Chechnya and Russia has resulted in the “destruction” of Chechnya’s economy (“Chechen rebel health minister details Russian torture methods”). He states, “the whole Chechen nation is involved in the genocide process in his state and abroad,”(“Chechen rebel health minister details Russian torture methods”).
