President of Ingushetia to visit Geneva to settle problem of Chechen refugees

President of Ingushetia Murat Zyazikov is going to Geneva to discuss issues concerning the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Ingushetia to Chechnya. As reported by spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Viktoria Zotikova, the visit of the Ingush President is scheduled for January 18-20. He will visit the UN headquarters in Geneva by the invitation of UN Resident Coordinator Stephan Vassilev.

Murat Zyazikov will meet with high-ranking officials of the Offices of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Development Programme, and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Issues connected with the process of IDPs' return from Ingushetia to Chechnya as well as IDPs' living conditions in the tent camps in Ingushetia are expected to be discussed during the talks.

Source: RIA "News"

Police involved into abductions of locals people

The other day a correspondent of the Information Center at the Society for the Russian-Chechen Friendship learnt that there was a fire on the premises belonging to the Temporary Department of Achkhoy-Martan police office during the New Year holidays. As is well known, militiamen attached from different regions of the Russian Federation work at such temporary departments. One of the representatives of the standing Achkhoy-Martan district police office informed our correspondent about that on terms not to reveal his name. Chechen militiamen participated in extinguishing the fire. They noticed two "UAZ" cars in the territory of the temporary police office that had been seen in the village when people were abducted. It became known later that both cars belong to Urus-Martan RUBOP (district department on the struggle with organized crime).

[17.01.2004 14:52] The Chechen Times

Appeal to the 2004 US presidential candidates

Dear Friends:

With the 2004 election season now upon us, the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya (ACPC) urges you to contact the presidential candidates and ask them to promote a peaceful solution to the Russo-Chechen war.

By letting the candidates know that you care about Chechnya as an election issue, you will help to ensure that this terrible conflict remains part of the debate in 2004.

To that end, ACPC has prepared a brief suggested text to use when writing to the candidates.  Please feel free to use all or none of it, as you feel appropriate.  Contact information for each of the major party candidates follows below.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely yours,

Daniel A. Pellathy Program Officer American Committee for Peace in Chechnya 1319 18th St, NW Washington, DC 2036 Tel: 202.364.2466 Fax: 202.483.8337 www.peaceinchechnya.org

George Bush: http://www.georgewbush.com/ContactUs/

Wesley Clark: http://www3.clark04.com/forms/contact.mhtml

Howard Dean: http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=resource s_contact

John Edwards: info@johnedwards2004.com

Dick Gephardt: info@dickgephardt2004.com

John Kerry: info@johnkerry.com

Dennis Kucinich: http://www.kucinich.us/contact.php

Joe Lieberman: http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm?regarding=issue

Al Sharpton: info@sharpton2004.org

---begin statement---

I write to express my concern over the on-going war in Chechnya and ask that you raise the issue of Chechnya as you campaign for the presidency in 2004.

With nearly a dozen bomb attacks associated with the conflict claiming some 200 lives throughout the Russian Federation this year alone, the fighting in Chechnya has spread instability and fear far beyond the borders of this tiny republic.

Total deaths among the Chechens, including those from the 1994-1997 war, exceed 100,000.  Roughly 30 percent of the Chechen population is displaced. Russian authorities continue to close refugee camps, evicting 1,500 Chechen civilians in December 2003 alone.

Evidence of war crimes abounds.  Official estimates of Chechens who have been abducted or gone missing in 2003 stand at 400.  Human rights groups have documented mass graves, with one site containing the bodies of more than 50 men and boys, many bearing clear signs of torture.

As conditions in Chechnya deteriorate, US leadership and the cooperation of the international community become ever more vital in resolving this tragic war.  I hope that you make peace in Chechnya an issue during your campaign, and a foreign policy priority if you are elected.

---end statement---