"Collective Action" Initiative Group alarmed at aggravating situation around terrorist act in Moscow

We call your attention to the statement by members of the "Collective Action" Initiative Group in connection with the explosion on the Moscow metro:

"We are shocked by the tragedy that happened in the metro today. We condole with the relatives and friends of those who died and feel for those who suffered. We consider the hasty conclusions and accusations, which are exacerbating people's grief and suffering and provoking ethnic hatred and aggression in our society, to be blasphemy. We express a protest against the statement by Sergey Glazyev, which is inciting ethnic hatred and animosity, and against the calls by Dmitry Rogozin for the declaration of a state of emergency and cancellation of the presidential elections. We are disturbed by the position taken by President Vladimir Putin, who hurried to "appoint" the guilty in the hours following the tragedy. We demand that a careful investigation be carried out into the causes and all the circumstances surrounding the event."

Arutyunov, Mikhail, International Assembly for Human Rights Protection
Babushkin, Andrey, "For Civil Rights" Charitable Committee
Bonner, Elena, Andrey Sakharov Foundation
Chyorny, Ernst, Ecology and Human Rights
Gannushkina, Svetlana, "Civic Assistance" Committee
Grafova, Lidiya, Forum of Emigrant Organizations
Karetnikova, Anna, Antiwar Club
Kovalyov, Sergey, Human Rights Institute
Ponomaryov, Lev, "For Human Rights" Movement
Samodurov, Yury, Andrey Sakharov Museum and Public Center
Shadrin, Yury, human rights activist
Vakhnina, Lyudmila, human rights activist
Yakunin, Gleb, Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Conscience

The statement is seconded by: Olga Trusevich and Yevgeny Ikhlov

6 February 2004

Editors note: See also the article "Death toll from Moscow metro blast reaches 39".