European envoy urges Russia
to shelve Chechen poll
January 24, 2003 Posted: 17:05 Moscow time (13:05 GMT)
Photo: Lord Judd stated that while conditions in Chechnya are deplorable,
relations with Russia must be retained so as to maintain the legitimacy
of the Council of Europe. (AP)
MOSCOW - A European human rights envoy urged Russia on Friday to call off
a constitutional referendum in Chechnya, saying it was doomed to fail while
violence exploded daily and the views of ordinary Chechens were ignored.
"We don't just want a bit of paper that people say 'yes' or 'no' to. We
want a real political solution rooted in the people and the consensus of
the people," senior Council of Europe official Frank Judd said in Moscow
after visiting Chechnya.
Russia, seeking to find a way out of an impasse in a decade of fighting
between separatists and Russian troops, has set March 23 for a poll on a
new constitution that could cement the rebel region's status as a Russian
republic.
In pressing ahead with the vote, a precursor to presidential elections,
Moscow has brushed aside international concern and security worries at home,
where rebels last October struck in the heart of Moscow by seizing hundreds
hostage at a theatre.
The Kremlin has also dismissed the objections of Chechen separatist leaders
who have branded the plebiscite a ruse to portray President Vladimir Putin
as a peacemaker and divert world attention from human rights abuses by Russian
troops.
Judd, who will report his findings to the Council of Europe's parliamentary
assembly next week, said any constitution must draw on the opinions of ordinary
Chechens not exclude them. Moscow's draft has been drawn up by a small group
of experts.
"This document sets the whole framework for the political future of Chechnya.
But countries have never been able to build stability unless the constitution
and proposals come out of widespread political discussions," said Judd,
a member of the House of Lords, Britain's upper chamber of parliament. The
vote raises questions about independent monitoring after Moscow refused
to extend the mandate of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe beyond the start of the year.
Judd said the Council of Europe was also unlikely to attend, even if invited.
"How could we send observers to lend authority to something that we did
not think was appropriate?"
Chechnya is a no-go area for journalists because of official restrictions
and the threat of kidnappings by local warlords.
WIDESPREAD IGNORANCE
Chechen refugees living in camps in neighbouring Ingushetia were uninformed
about the draft constitution, Judd said, nor had they been invited to meetings
to hear about it.
He also questioned Moscow's refusal to talk to rebel leaders and suggested
they could learn from the peace process in Northern Ireland, where a breakthrough
came with the inclusion of the guerrillas' political representatives in
negotiations.
He described Chechen rebel envoy Akhmed Zakayev, who is fighting extradition
from Britain to Russia, as someone with whom it was "possible to have an
intelligent conversation about the need for a settlement."
Judd said in three years tracking the Chechnya conflict for the Council
of Europe he had seen the devastated capital Grozny stagger back to life,
but normality was still a long way away.
Cars were back on the streets, and makeshift stalls had sprung up selling
goods. But evidence of Russia's effort to crush the rebels was in the destroyed
buildings and shell holes.
"Grozny is part of Europe and we are all diminished by (the situation there).
If we have this Grozny in Europe, how can we be proud of the Europe we live
in?" Judd said.