Appeal of Chechen human rights organizations

Is There a Choice? Participation or Complicity?

A presidential election has been scheduled for 5 October in the Chechen Republic.

Government officials of the Russian Federation say that this election will mark a decisive phase in the political settlement of the armed conflict in the Chechen Republic. Furthermore, they imply that this conflict no longer exists: They called it a "counterterrorist operation" until recently, but now it is nothing more than "measures to maintain law and order."

The Russian authorities have urged everyone to participate in the election. They have urged the people of Chechnya to vote, the politicians to run for the presidency, and international organizations and the Russian public to monitor the voting and endorse the people's choice.

We representatives of public organizations in the Chechen Republic are announcing our refusal to participate in the events of 5 October in any way whatsoever.

Above all, we refuse because the war is still going on in Chechnya.   Tens of thousands of people have been killed and thousands more are "missing," and those murders and "disappearances" are still going on. The misfortunes the residents of Chechnya have suffered in recent years are comparable to World War II and to Stalin's "Great Terror." We recall the elections held in an atmosphere of terror in the Soviet Union, in 1937. The government that was elected at that time proceeded to destroy its own people, and seven years later it committed genocide against our people--the Chechens and the Ingush.   We do not want a repetition of this.

In the final analysis, no one today knows how the deadlock in the Chechen war should be broken. Only the people of the Chechen Republic, voting in free elections, can determine the outcome. Will there be a free election on 5 October, and is it possible to participate in it?

We cannot tell anyone what to do. Each person is free to make his own choice. Each person will be responsible for his choice, however, and each should make this choice consciously, mindful of all of its
implications.

We do not believe that the election will bring peace to the Chechen Republic if the supporters of independence, including members of the Chechen resistance, are left out of the political process.  The
experience in resolving conflicts in many "hot spots" on the planet indicates that the cessation of armed confrontation must precede any election or referendum.

What is actually happening?

The October 2002 census suggested that the Chechen Republic had a population of 1,088,000, although the actual figure was just over 600,000. This was done in preparation for the March "referendum" on the constitution, which was approved by hundreds of thousands of "dead souls." After this, they turned the amnesty into a farce:  Instead of giving the members of the Chechen resistance a chance to participate in political affairs, they offered them a chance to join Akhmad Kadyrov's security guard under his personal protection. All of this had already happened in 1995 and 1996, when the "elected" government lasted only a few months. Free elections were held in the Chechen Republic in 1997, and the results were acknowledged by the international community and the Government of the Russian Federation. A new legitimate government is impossible today unless it is the legal successor of the government elected then.

We appeal to the Chechen people.

You are tired of war, and many of you would accept any outcome and are hoping for a miracle again. That is your personal choice. You do not have to participate in the election. If you do go to the polls, however, you should know that they will deceive you again. They will tell you that the election will make you safe, but did the March "referendum" stop the violence and terror?

We appeal to the candidates for presidential office.

You are also hoping for a miracle, but there will be no miracle.  You will be either deceived or stifled. It is already obvious that all of the strength and "administrative clout" is on the side of one candidate, Akhmad Kadyrov. The hundreds of thousands of "dead souls" and the people that will be counting their votes are also on his side. If you will not refuse to participate in this clearly dishonest election, however, you must at least admit the truth to yourselves.  No, this will not be a clean election, but let the source of the dirt be obvious to the outside world.

We appeal to the global community.

Do not give this obviously dirty undertaking the semblance of cleanliness by participating in it. None of the conditions formulated by the Council of Europe for free elections has been met in the Chechen Republic. By agreeing to be official observers of this "election," you will be partly to blame for the crime.

We appeal to the public, Russian and international.

You are being urged to participate in monitoring the election, and you might be hoping for a miracle, but there will be no miracle. You have been keeping a chronicle of these crimes along with us for all of the last few years, without becoming accomplices in the crimes. Keep track of everything that happens, but do not sanctify the upcoming farce with your official presence.

They want to force us into complicity and thereby deprive us of a future.   If we refuse to be deceived today, however, that will be no small accomplishment.


List of persons and organizations which signed the present statement (my translation): 

1. Imran Ezheeyev - The regional department Russian-Chechen Friendship Society;

2. Libkan Bazayeva - Public organization "Woman merit";

3. Minkail Ezhiyev - The regional department of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society;

4. Magomed Musayev - Public organization of " Zov predkov " [Call of ancestors];

5. Koka Khachukayeva - Human rights organization of "Bol materey Chechni" [Pain of mothers of Chechnya];

6. Shirvani Gunayev - International United Committee of Refugees from Chechnya;

7. Tamara Guzuyeva - Public organization "Lik budushchego"(Chechnya-Ingushetia);

8. Ramzan Didayev - Public organization "Liga of the progressive forces of the Chechen republic";

9. Lecha Ilyasov - Public center "Latta";
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10. Izruddin Aldamov - Public organization "Lamanan Shovda";

11. Timur Aliyev - Interregional Public Organization of the T. Aliyev's Institute;

12. Ruslan Badalov - Regional Public society "The Chechen Committee of National Rescue", National Olympic Committee of Chechnya;

13. Baudi Dudayev - Public organization "Alliance of the forced migrants from the Chechen republic";

14. Zarman Makhadzhiyeva - Human rights organization "Niyso";

15. Murad Nashkhoyev - Independent Consultative Council;

16. Zulay Bagalova - Cultural center "LAM", meritorious artist of the RSFSR

17. Mate Tsikhesashvili - "Committee for search of people who disappeared without a trace"

18. Lema Shakhmurzayev - Institute of political culture"LAMAST";

19. Toita Yunusova - Chechen department of interregional peacemaking organization MMO "Ekho of war" - Nazran;

20. Zaynap Gashayeva - MMO "Ekho of war";

21. Madina Magomadova - Association "Materi of Chechnya for mir [Mothers of Chechnya for peace];

22. Maya Shovkhalova - Public organization "Iberiya".

23. Fatima Gaziyeva - Co-chairman of the Union of the North Caucasus Women"

24. Magomed Musayev - Union of jurists of the Chechen republic

25. Tamara Kalayeva - Independent Chechen  information center

26. Yakha  Tayzulayeva - Public organization "Umma"

27. Dik Altemirov - Public assembly of political of parties of CHRI movement

28. Koka Sardalova - Leader of the public organization "Nokhchin Nanoy" (Mothers of Chechnya).

Chechenpress 22.08.03

http://www.chechenpress.com/news/08_2003/8_22_08.shtml