THIS is the moment that a Russian general picks an argument with a student in Chechnya — and orders his execution.

The chilling images, shown by CNN around the world, capture the final minutes in the life of Khadzimurat Yandiyev. The injured 25-year-old Chechen argued with General Alexander Baranov after soldiers demanded to see his papers.

“Get him the heck out of here,” the General shouts, according to CNN’s English voiceover. But in Russian, he can clearly be heard saying: “Rub him out, kill him, damn it. That’s your entire order. Get him over there. Rub him out. Shoot him.”

The images, broadcast on February 2, 2000, were watched by Mr Yandiyev’s horrified mother, Fatima Bazorkina, who immediately began a desperate search for her son. When she found no trace of him she launched a quest for justice against the Russian military.

Yesterday the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg made a landmark ruling against Russia. In the first of 150 similar cases, the court ruled that Russia had violated the right to life of Mr Yandiyev and failed to conduct a proper investigation.

It ordered Moscow to pay his mother €35,000 (£24,500) in compensation for the inhumane treatment that she endured while trying to ascertain her son’s fate. Mr Yandiyev, who had travelled to Chechnya in search of his father, was never seen again. His body has not been found.

General Baranov was promoted in 2004 and received a Hero of Russia medal in 2005. He now commands all the troops in southern Russia.

“I hope that now I can find the truth and my country will answer the question: where is my son?” Mrs Bazorkina, who lives in Ingushetia, told The Times. “My case is not the only one. Other mothers will see that I have won and will now take their cases to the European court.”

The court has ruled against Russia several times, but this ruling has set a precedent for at least 150 more Chechen disappearance cases under consideration in Strasbourg.

Human rights groups say that many others could follow, as up to 5,000 people have disappeared in Chechnya since 1999, when Russian troops re-entered the region.

Mr Yandiyev’s relatives say that they hope his case will force the Government to curb the disappearances, which most locals blame on Russian forces and the pro-Moscow Chechen militia.

But Russia, which has three months to appeal, is almost certain to dispute the embarrassing verdict. Even if it is upheld, Moscow is unlikely to prosecute General Baranov.

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