relevant domestic law see Akhmadova and Sadulayeva v. Russia (No. 40464/02, §§ 67 - 69, 10 May 2007).
THE LAW
I. The Government's objection regarding non-exhaustion
of domestic remedies
A. The parties' submissions
76. The Government contended that the complaint should be declared inadmissible for non-exhaustion of domestic remedies. They submitted that the investigation into the disappearance of Mayrudin Khantiyev had not yet been completed. They further argued that it had been open to the applicants to challenge in court any acts or omissions of the investigating or other law-enforcement authorities, but that the applicants had not availed themselves of that remedy. They also pointed out that the applicants had not lodged a claim for compensation of non-pecuniary damage under Articles 1069 - 70 of the Civil Code.
77. The applicants contested that objection. They stated that the criminal investigation had proved to be ineffective. Referring to the other cases concerning such crimes reviewed by the Court, they also alleged that the existence of an administrative practice of non-investigation of crimes committed by State servicemen in Chechnya rendered any potentially effective remedies inadequate and illusory in their case. With reference to the Court's practice, they argued that they were not obliged to apply to civil courts in order to exhaust domestic remedies.
B. The Court's assessment
78. The Court will examine the arguments of the parties in the light of the provisions of the Convention and its relevant practice (for a relevant summary, see Estamirov and Others v. Russia, No. 60272/00, §§ 73 - 74, 12 October 2006).
79. The Court notes that the Russian legal system provides, in principle, two avenues of recourse for the victims of illegal and criminal acts attributable to the State or its agents, namely civil and criminal remedies.
80. As regards a civil action to obtain redress for damage sustained through illegal acts or unlawful conduct on the part of State agents, the Court has already found in a number of similar cases that this procedure alone cannot be regarded as an effective remedy in the context of claims brought under Article 2 of the Convention (see Khashiyev and Akayeva v. Russia, Nos. 57942/00 and 57945/00, §§ 119 - 121, 24 February 2005, and Estamirov and Others, cited above, § 77). In the light of the above, the Court confirms that the applicants were not obliged to pursue civil remedies.
81. As regards criminal law remedies, the Court observes that the applicants complained to the law-enforcement authorities immediately after the abduction of Mayrudin Khantiyev and that an investigation has been pending since 27 December 2000. The applicants and the Government dispute the effectiveness of this investigation.
82. The Court considers that this limb of the Government's objection raises issues concerning the effectiveness of the investigation which are closely linked to the merits of the applicants' complaints. Thus, it decides to join this objection to the merits of the case and considers that the issue falls to be examined below under the substantive provisions of the Convention.
II. Alleged violation of Article 2 of the Convention
83. The applicants complained under Article 2 of the Convention that their relative had disappeared after being detained by State agents and that the authorities had not taken any measures to prevent his abduction. They also complained that the investigation into his disappearance had not been effective. Article 2 reads:
"1. Everyone's right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime for
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