The European Court of Human Rights has fined Russia 240,000 euros (about $319,000) for the shooting of four residents of the volatile North Caucasus republic of Chechnya in 2000, the court said on Thursday in a statement.
Adam, Turpal and Aslambek Israilov, as well as Aslanbek Dzhabrailov were allegedly shot by Russian servicemen in February 2000.
An investigation was opened only five months after the incident and then closed shortly afterwards since the murderers had not been revealed. The case was repeatedly opened and closed, but the culprits remained unknown.
The court said the Russian government had failed to provide it with requested investigative documents or explain the incident otherwise.
The Strasbourg Court believes Russia violated a range of articles in the Convention on Human Rights, including the right to life and the right for an effective remedy.
The court ordered the Russian government to pay the relatives of the deceased 240,000 euros (about $319,000) in moral damage and 2,200 euros (about $3,000) for court expenses.
Under the European Convention on Human Rights, Russia or the applicants have three months to appeal the ruling in the court's Grand Chamber.
Russia has lost most of its cases in the Strasbourg Court. Last year, suits against Russia accounted for more than one quarter of all cases filed in the court.
PARIS, November 25 (RIA Novosti)
