Human rights organizations urge UN to pass resolution on Chechnya

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Human Rights Center Memorial will hold a joint press conference at the Institute of Press Development on April 8. Its title is "The Situation in Chechnya and Ingushetia Is Worsening: New Evidence of Abductions, Torture, Rapes, and Extrajudicial Executions." On the threshold of voting by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the international human rights organizations demand that a resolution on Chechnya be passed following the results of the recent visit to the region. The organizations are expected to make their joint statement and show slides at the press conference.

Recent researches display that in spite of assurances by the Russian leadership about stabilization of the situation in Chechnya, mass human rights violations, such as torture, forcible disappearances and extrajudicial executions are going on there. The situation in neighboring Ingushetia is worsening rapidly. Violations typical of Chechnya have become an everyday practice in Ingushetia for the last three months. Civilians in the republic - both displaced persons from Chechnya and Ingushetians - are falling victims to "disappearances", illegal detentions, torture, and murders. Meanwhile, federal and Chechen authorities keep on closing camps for displaced persons on the territory of Ingushetia and insisting on their return to Chechnya, using combined tactics of threats and promises and refusing to provide the displace persons with any security guarantees. Living conditions in temporary accommodation centers in Chechnya do not meet any international standards, humanitarian aid is not regular and sufficient, and only a few receive compensations for lost housing.

The human rights organizations call upon the UN Commission on Human Rights to pass the tough resolution condemning the violations in Chechnya and neighboring Ingushetia and to demand that Russia take immediate measures to stop these violations.

Editors note: See also the article "Russia categorically opposed to Chechnya debate at UN".