Bakhrom Khamroev beaten

On 6 June 2011, human rights defender Mr Bakhrom Khamroev was attacked and beaten by unknown men in the entry of his building in Moscow. He is a member of Human Rights Centre “Memorial” and works on the rights of migrants from Central Asian countries and persecution of Muslims in the Russian Federation.

Further Information

On 6 June 2011 at approximately 18.15, Bakhrom Khamroev entered the front door of his apartment building and was assaulted by two unknown men. Approaching the building, Khamroev noticed an unknown man who called somebody when he saw Khamroev. One assailant was waiting for Khamroev between the first and second floor near some mailboxes. Another man in leather gloves came out of the elevator. Without saying anything, they started to beat Khamroev, one of them was using a knuckleduster and the other sprayed tear gas in Bakhrom’s face. The beating lasted a few minutes and then the assailants left.

When Bakhrom Khamroev managed to call the elevator and go to his apartment, his wife called an ambulance. He was brought to the hospital when he completed all the necessary medical examinations. He has head injuries and his eyes are still hurting.

He lodged a complaint to the police and the criminal investigation is open. The police discovered that all the CCTV camera of the building was glued up with chewing gum.

Front Line has previously reported on the attack of Bakhrom Khamroev on 7 December 2010. This previous attack has reportedly involved officers of Federal Security Forces, the investigation into this attack was opened but brought no results.

Front Line believes that this attack is linked to Bakhrom Khamroev’s work in the defence of human rights, in particular in monitoring the situation of people accused of being “religious extremists” and of migrants from Central Asia in the Russian Federation.