“For termination of war and establishment of peace in the Chechen Republic”

On inadmissibility of the constitutional referendum and elections in Chechnya under the conditions of military actions.

Your Excellencies!

We would like to inform you of our alarm and anxiety caused by the intention of the President and government of Russia to hold a referendum on the bill of a new Constitution of the Chechen Republic in March, and then – in the end of the year 2003 – elections to the different bodies of authorities of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria.

We are of the opinion that its is untimely to hold this kind of referendum, as it is more than three years military actions and clashes with the armed opposition are taking place in Chechnya, in the course of which human rights are grossly violated, the civilians and representatives of administration are tortured and killed, the citizens are deprived of the right to move freely on the territory of the republic, independent Russian and foreign journalists have no free access to Chechnya, there are no conditions for public and political discussions and expression of free will of the nation. The territory of the republic has been left by the permanent residents of different nationalities – Chechens, Russians, and it is inadmissible to determine the fate of Chechnya without their participation in the referendum.

The preparation to the referendum has already caused strict measures with regard to home return of the refugees being in Ingushetia, and pressure on many public organizations set up in accordance with the legislation of Russia and functioning on the territory of Chechnya.

We share and support the position of the PACE spokesman Lord Judd, who stated about the inadmissibility of the March 2003 Referendum on Constitution of Chechnya. The same opinion has been expressed by many Russian and Chechen politicians, as well as by the representatives and activists of several tens of Russian and Chechen public organizations carrying out their activities in the Chechen Republic.

We suppose that the referendum intended to be held in March of 2003 will undoubtedly take a form of parody on expression of the will of nation, lead us to aggravation of civil confrontation in Chechnya and intensify the activity of armed opposition.

Criticizing the intention of the Russian authorities to hold a referendum in the Chechen Republic in March of 2003, we believe, and have repeatedly mentioned it, that political future of the Chechen Republic should be determined by the people of Chechnya, and the best and most democratic way is a referendum carried out under the international observance. But this kind of referendum can be conducted only in case the agreement on ceasefire is concluded and the representatives of all main forces of the Chechen society (including the supporters of Aslan Maskhadov, the legitimately elected President of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria) recognize its results. In our opinion, not only the citizens of the republic living in Chechnya at present, but also those who were forced to abandon their homes after 1991 regardless their place of residence and nationality should have the right to take part in the referendum on the Constitution of the Chechen Republic. Besides that, international observers must be drawn to the process of peace regulation to the conflict, including that of the organization and carrying out the referendum.

Our criticism with regard to the plan of the Russian President to hold a referendum in the Chechen Republic in March 2003, is not directed at belittling of the sovereignty of Russia, but it is conditioned by the aim and aspiration for achievement of really political regulation to this extremely grave conflict.

We think the governments of democratic countries in the West must not allow the Russian authorities to ignore the fact that any kind of referendum under the existing conditions in Chechnya , when Russian servicemen carry out mopping up (“zachistka”) operations, blockade the roads and villages, and a curfew is imposed on the territory of the republic, is categorically prohibited by the legislation of Russia and international law.

We appeal to the heads of states and governments concerned with the termination of the war in Chechnya to make the most of their influence to constrain the hostile sides to begin the process of peace regulation to the conflict, hoping you will support the idea that referendum in Chechnya should be a concluding stage of political regulation to the military and civil conflicts.

Your actions in this direction will save the lives of thousands of the Chechen civilians and Russian soldiers.

Members of All-National Committee of Russia “For termination of the war and establishment of peace in the Chechen Republic”:

Deputies of State Duma of RF : S.A.Kovalev, Yu.A.Ribakov, S.N.Yushenkov;

E.G.Bonner, The Andrey Sakharov Foundation;
A.Tkachenko, Secretary General of Russian PEN-Center;
Zuleikhan Bagalova, Honored Actress of RF;
L.D.Gudkov, Doctor of Philosophy;
I.G.Yakovenko, Doctor of Philosophy;
R.N.Badalov, Chairman of the “Chechen Committee of National Salvation”;
L.I.Grafov, Forum of Organizations for Migrants;
S.A.Gannushkina, The “Civil Cooperation” Public Committee;
O.P.Orlov, The “Memoirial” Human Rights Center;
L.A.Ponomrev, “For Human Rights” Public Movement;
Yu.V.Samodurov, Director of Andrey Sakharov Museum and Public Center

All-National Committee of Russia, Moscow, 15.03.03.