The Russian authorities justify mass infringements of human rights in Chechnya
by combating terrorism, and especially international terrorism. At the same
time, as far back as in 2001, as noted in our previous report, the situation in
the region actually has been laid up and remains unchangeable. People still disappear
in Chechnya, the civilians are killed, violence and pillage is a routine. Gross
violations of human rights are admitted not only by the representatives
of federal forces, but also by the formations contradicting them. During the year
2002 the Chechen villages were continuously subjected to mopping up operations.
From May to September, according to the data of the Human Rights Center "Memorial",
there were four "zachistka" operations: in Mesker-Yurt (May-June), Tevzeni (August),
Tsotsin-yurt (September), Chechen-Aul (June), three of which resulted in killing
and disappearance of the civilians, and in all cases a number of incidents of
humiliation and severe treatment to the people as well as pillage and robbery
took place.
As regards the "zachistka" operations, it should be noted that Order N 80 issued
by Commander of United Grouping of Armed Forces Lieutenant-General V.Moltenskoy
on March 27, 2002, dealing with strict procedure rules for carrying out this kind
of operations, merely has been ignored by the federal forces. In evidence of the
above mentioned can be presented the information of human rights center "Memorial"
on carrying out the "zachistki". Although the number of suits brought in against
the civilians on the facts of crimes has increased, the investigation of the absolute
majority of the cases has been stopped, and there are no such officials heading
the "zachistka" operations entailing gross violations of human rights, who were
either made responsible for those actions or punished. The only adequate decision
in the given case would be the cessation of "zachistki", but, in spite of promises
repeatedly given on the part of the authorities, this does not happen.
On the other hand, the civilians fall victims of the acts of sabotage carried
out against the federal forces. Thus, on 16 September, as a result of the blast
which had been intended for the Russian soldiers, 8 innocent people sitting in
a passenger bus, including two children were killed and 24 were wounded. Despite
the tragedy of the civilians in Chechnya, practically subject to the strikes
of both sides, and almost complete lack of progress with regard to peace regulation
to the conflict, the authorities tried to create an impression that the situation
is under control and the course taken by the authorities is the only correct one.
And it was this task that determined the information policy of the federal authorities:
maximum filtration of the information on the events taking place in Chechnya,
accentuating that the situationis becoming normal in the republic and pointing
out the revival of social infrastructure; information and propagandistic support
of the federal forces actions.
The attention of international community to the infringements of human rights
in Chechnya has fallen since the 11 September 2001 events. In the spring
of 2002, the UN Commission for Human Rights failed to adopt the resolution of
Russia/Chechnya (unlike the years 2002 and 2000), and correspondingly, the Chechen
problem has been removed from the agenda of this greatest international
forum on human rights. The USA as well as other countries members of the European
Union began to close eyes on the policy of Russia in the Chechen Republic,
which is presented as part of fighting against international terrorism. In Russia,
on the other hand, according to the inquest results, percentage of the Russians
supporting peace negotiations with Chechnya has increased from 51 to 57% for the
period January-September 2002 respectively. The population having so actively
supporting the military actions in 2000 (then, according to the inquest data 70%
of respondents were for continuation of military actions), in 2002, despite the
active propaganda campaign, began to tend to the putting an end to the war in
Chechnya. The October events of terrorist act in Moscow, however, has changed
the situation. According to the data of the inquest carried out in October 2002,
44% instead of 57% supported the termination of the Chechen war, moreover, 49%
of them were of the opinion the actions of the federal forces "are not sufficiently
severe".
Extract from the report of Human Rights Center "Memorial", 26.01.03.