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International
committee on Chechen Republic has addressed Committee of Ministers of European
Union with special announcement accusing Council of Europe of its virtual
support to Russia in destruction of Chechen people.
Open
letter of International Committee on Chechen Republic to Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe:
We
consider it necessary to draw your attention to an indisputable fact that leads
to aggravation of conditions in Chechen Republic and though since long time
evolved necessity of urgent intervention on part of Europe.
The Chechen Republic still is at war with Russia, and the civilians continue to
remain basic victims of the military operations, which are not stopping since
September 1999. Any step for "normalization" of conditions has not
taken place, refugees and peace-loving population are still thrown on
arbitrariness of destiny, and the Russian government itself recognizes, that ten
millions rubles fixed for so-called "restoration of Republic", were
plundered. Concerning "political decision", Russian authorities are
refusing its acceptance, as a matter of fact, and intend to assign all powers to
FSB, to appoint several puppets among Chechen representatives and to refuse any
negotiations with the conflicting side, as negotiations are the only solution to
the end of war.
Under
pretext of taking measures on security, the Russian authorities in every
possible way aspire to forbid access of independent observers to Chechen
territory, and recent detention of female journalist of “Novaya Gazeta” in
Chechen Republic by organs of FSB obviously testifies that all actions are
directed on continuation of this war - behind closed doors and without witnesses.
Thus the international community, and countries of Europe in particular, with
immense indulgence listen to improbable justifications, consciously getting in
the traps placed for them.
So,
after returning from the trip in ChRI, Mr. Zhil Robles has declared Putin's
decision to withdraw armies from Chechen Republic to be "very wise".
But, unfortunately, the decision of withdrawal was not executed, and the choice
of the military solution of conflict is still considered to be most suitable by
him. The "withdrawal" of armies declared at the end of January, 2001
just before the beginning of session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, is limited to army divisions becoming "useless", and
accompanied by special operations for final "destruction of insurgents".
The decision of this task should be carried out in spring of this year by
commander of North Caucasian military wing general Troshev. Actually the whole
story of reduction is merely rotation of armies by replacement of military units
with divisions of Ministry of Internal Affairs and FSB, involved in conduction
of operations of "maintenance of order ".
During
performance of similar operations of "maintenance of order ", as
conducted already within one year, even more violent violations of human rights
are committed. On the data collected by Human Rights Watch organization "Memorial",
the number of similar infringements has increased, that resulted in the general
deterioration of circumstances, especially in the south of Chechen Republic.
All
civilians of Chechen Republic now appeared in a position of hostage of the
Russian occupational forces. Any counteraction to military divisions or forces
for " maintenance order " results in immediate reprisals and
retaliatory actions against rural peace-loving inhabitants: illegal arrests,
oppressions, mass punishments or bombardments and bombardments by heavy
artillery. During operations for "cleaning" and on check-post, the
number of people, who disappeared without knowledge of relatives, and recent
discovery of communal grave nearby to Grozny – Dzhokhar, that there is a rise in
human rights violation, and similar practices frequently result in terrible
consequences. Chechens have turned to a favorable subject of trade for Russian
occupational forces: first they are arrested and then put in prisons and army
centers located in populated points, and at last sell them to relatives.
As
to justice - in this aspect, Mr. Zhil-Robles has seen some improvement and taken
enough interest in more detail of unique litigation against Russian military -
colonel Budanova - and it becomes obvious, to what extent looks mockery
announcement of Zhil-Robles. Accused by Russian authorities for suffocation and
rape of young Chechen girl during last year, Budanov is incriminated now only
for murder, contrary to opening of real results, rape was attributed to soldiers,
who have dug the body and were subsequently amnestied. The Russian authorities,
on behalf of governor of Ulyanovsk, general Shamanov now deny these facts,
publicly supporting Budanov, " having performed his military task ".
Demonstrators came to express their support to "Russian hero", offered
Nazi greetings directly at the gate of court, and police has not undertaken any
measures for their dispersal - this fact perfectly testifies that situation in
Chechen Republic is a dangerous caution for evolutionary process in Russia.
In
such circumstances, the decision on restoration of vote of the Russian
delegation in Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, accepted some
time back, today is inadmissible as it aggravates situation and it was
interpreted by Russia as approval of its adopted policy concerning Chechen
Republic. The committee of Ministers bears serious responsibility for similar
Criminal deviation from undertaken obligations, according to that since April,
2000, it has not fulfilled any requirements of Parliamentary Assembly. In
process of deterioration of conditions in Chechen Republic, the Committee of
Ministers in an extra hurry should begin procedure of timely discharge of Russia
from participation in the Council of Europe. Member states of the Council of
Europe should make a complaint against Russia in the European Court under Human
rights. Europe, in turn, also should play a role of intermediary in negotiations
with legitimately elected President of ChRI, Maskhadov, according to the
petition of the European Parliament in its resolution since February 15, 2001.
Any deviation from principles, any delay, or any support in relations to Russian
government, which is involved in crimes against humanity, henceforth cannot be
considered in a different way, other than support to these crimes.
International Committee on Chechen Republic
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