MOSCOW, November 26 (RIA Novosti) - The European Court of Human Rights has fined Russia 215,000 euros ($324,000) over the disappearance of five people in its North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, the court said in a statement on Thursday.

Aslanbek Ismailov, Aslan Ismailov, Khizir Ismailov, Yusi Daidayev and Yaragi Ismailov, from the Chechen town of Achkhoi-Martan, were taken away by armed men in camouflage uniforms in January 2003. They have not been seen since.

After studying the cases, the judge ruled that the five Chechens disappeared after having been detained by Russian servicemen. The court also declared the men dead.

The court ruled that the Russian authorities had infringed several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, and awarded the applicants a total of 40,000 euros in material damages ($60,000), 175,000 euros (264,000) in moral damages, and 5,500 euros ($8,200) for costs and expenses.

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.