"The lone Wolf" Salman Raduyev's wife Lidiya Raduyeva interviewed by Agency Caucasus on death of her husband.

"I understood that he went thru torture."

"I visited Seli Kampsk in Perm region 2 months ago. I talked with him for 4 hours in very strict prison conditions. I became aware that my husband have been thru tortures and have been thru much hardship. He was very weak. We were prohibited to speak in our native Chechen language. We were surrounded by Russian soldiers and there were spying cameras all around. We had to speak Russian. He wouldn't talk about torture under these conditions."

By Fehim Taştekin

16 December 2002

Lidiya Raduyeva and Raduyev's sister were planning to visit Salman Raduyev Yesterday when they heard about his death. Raduyev's wife and children: Zelimkhan(6) and Cauhar(5) were in hopes thru the Court that Raduyev may be saved from the Russian prison. Mrs. Raduyeva has no doubt that Salman Raduyev is killed in Russian prison. Mrs. Raduyeva says that "internal hemorrhage" is nothing but Russian fabrication. Mrs. Raduyeva informed us about the death of her husband:

Question- When was your last visit to Salman Raduyev ?

Answer- I visited Seli Kampsk in Perm region 2 months ago. I talked with him for 4 hours in very strict prison conditions. This prison is for those serving life time sentences.

Question- Did he tell you anything about going thru torture ?

Answer- No he didn't. But I became aware that my husband have been thru tortures and have been thru much hardship. He was very weak. We were prohibited to speak in our native Chechen language. We were surrounded by Russian soldiers and there were spying cameras all around. We had to speak Russian. He wouldn't talk about torture under these conditions." His outward looks told me that he has been thru torture. But as I said we didn't talk about it.

Question- Was Salman Raduyev anxious that Russians will kill him ?

Answer- No. He was sure that he will be free again. He was full of life. My impression from his talk made no suggestion about his death. Atgeriyev and Ali Hadjiyev's death made us anxious about Salman.

Question- Do you have any special information about the cause of his death ?

Answer- No special information. Russian Defense Ministry stated his death as 13 December. We received the news about his death very late. His death is not from natural causes. Atgeriev(29) and Hadjiyev too are killed. Salman Raduyev(35) was full of life. His physical look was result of war scars. He had no internal problems. He was fully fit. Russians have fabricated health problems for Salman Raduyev which is completely a Russian lie.

Question- Did you contact Russian authorities after his death ?

Answer- Russians must have done this. Nobody contacted to Raduyev's wife and Raduyev's sister. Salman's sister called me Yesterday morning and told me that she has a telegram from Salman whom asks us to come to the prison by mid December. We decided to go. We were unaware that Salman was already dead.

Question- Russians declared that they won't give the body. What are your plans on this matter ?

Answer- Russians perpetrated a new stipulation that terrorists' bodies won't be given to their families. My husband was never terrorist. The real terrorists are the Russians. I'm going to Russia tomorrow. I know that much many problems are waiting for me there. I'm ready to face all problems. I'll recover his body and get it buried in The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

Question- Are you going to get Raduyev's death to international platform ?

Answer- We already have appealed to the Russian Superior Court and asked review of the decision of the Dagestani Court. After negative result of the Russian Superior Court, I went to the European Human Rights Court. European Human Rights Court acknowledged the receipt of my petition. I was waiting the day they will call me from the Court. I'm now going to further petition about his death. I stated to The Court that Salman is no terrorist but a struggling man to defend his country.

Question- It is reported that Raduyev is killed for the reason that he refused the Russian perpetrations to witness against Akhmad Zakayev, The Vice Premier of Chechnya. What do you think on this subject ?

Answer- There may be several reasons. It is difficult to say something definite. Yes, one of the reasons on the killing of Salman Raduyev, can be his refusal to witness against Akhmad Zakayev.

Question- What other reasons can be for the Salman Raduyev killing ?

Answer- He may have received offers to cooperate with the Russians. There are many examples that Russians kill the dissenters. I'm sure that Russians offered Salman and asked him to cooperate. Salman have fought for his People. He's a distinguished person. If it was not so, the Russians would have killed him much earlier. This proves that Russians tried to benefit from him. Salman Raduyev was not the type of person the Russians thought of.
Agency Caucasus

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