Akhmed Gisaev, a Chechen human rights activist, and his family have left Chechnya because they fear for their lives.

Alexander Cherkasov* of the Moscow-based Memorial human rights center told RFE/RL that Akhmed Gisaev along with his late colleague, Natalya Estemirova who was assasinated last month, had been investigating the apparent kidnapping of Chechen Apti Zainalov in the Achkhoi-Martan district of Chechnya this year.

Cherkasov says that after Estemirova was murdered, unknown individuals started following Gisaev.

Cherkasov says the current circumstances forced Gisaev and his family to leave Chechnya.

Gisaev himself says he was tortured by Russian occupaying forces several years ago and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is scheduled to soon begin hearings on his case.

The case of Zainalov, in which Gisaev is the only witness, is also expected to be the focus of the European Court.

Meanwhile, the senior investigator into Estemirova’s murder, Igor Sobol, told RFE/RL that Gisaev’s claims about his life being in danger are baseless.

(*Photo: Alexander Cherkasov)