Maskhadov: Military operations must be in accordance with the Geneva conventions.


THE CHECHEN REPUBLIC OF ICHKERIA

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS


Monday, June 16, 2003


PRESS RELEASE: President Aslan Maskhadov issues an order defining rules of military conduct of the Chechen Armed Forces.

President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Aslan Maskhadov issued on May 30th an executive order # 619 aimed to facilitate consolidation ofthe Chechen society and a peaceful resolution of the Russian-Chechen Conflict.

The order declares void all acts and regulations of the Russian puppet administration in Chechnya (Article 1), instructs legitimate government structures of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria to undertake measures to facilitate rights and freedoms of the Chechen people (Article 2), and defines rules of military conduct of the Chechen Armed Forces. The order instructs all Chechen armed resistance units to conduct military operations "in strict accordance" with the relevant requirements of the Geneva Conventions (Article 3), explicitly outlaws military operations in civilian populated areas (Article 4), and statesthat the use of lethal force against Chechen citizens involved in Russian military and security forces is permitted only in cases when "they pose an imminent threat to life" (Article 5).

The order offers a pardon and security to citizens of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria involved in foreign government, military and security structures (Article 6) and sets up a public commission to recommend consolidating measures to prevent confrontational divisions in the Chechen society (Article 7).

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