$FWLYLWLHVGXULQJWKHSHULRG$XJXVWWR-XO\ 7. In April/May 2011, the CPT organised its twelfth visit to the North Caucasian region of the Russian Federation, focusing on the Republic of Dagestan and the Chechen Republic. In the months preceding the visit, the CPT had received a considerable amount of information pointing to a general deterioration of the security environment in Dagestan. In parallel, numerous reports were received about the allegedly widespread resort to ill-treatment of persons detained by law enforcement agencies in that Republic. Several reports referred to practices of unlawful detention, detention in unofficial places and abductions, allegedly carried out by law enforcement officials. And the Committee had also continued to receive similar reports as regards the Chechen Republic. The decision was therefore taken to return to these two Republics, in order to verify the situation on the spot and examine the steps taken to implement recommendations made after previous visits. The CPT also considered that the time had come to examine the situation in North OssetiaAlania, a Republic which had previously received relatively little attention from the Committee. In the three Republics, the delegation focused its attention on the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty by law enforcement agencies and discussed with the relevant authorities in the region the carrying out of investigations vis-à-vis allegations or information indicative of ill-treatment of detained persons by law enforcement officials. The opportunity was also taken to review conditions of detention in the main pre-trial establishments (SIZOs) in each of the Republics. 0RQLWRULQJRQEHKDOIRIWKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO&ULPLQDO 7ULEXQDOIRUWKHIRUPHU<XJRVODYLD,&7<