Chechen Foreign Ministry Rejects Tony Blair's Allegations

Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs

According to Reuters, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, apparently in an attempt to justify his refusal to confront President Putin's genocidal policy in Chechnya, claimed yesterday that Chechens have fought against the coalition forces in Iraq. We reject Tony Blair's baseless allegations and condemn any efforts to justify Russia's genocidal war in Chechnya. There were no Chechen fighters in Iraq, as there were no Chechen fighters in Afghanistan.

The British Prime Minister should have been aware that we have supported the coalition's efforts to remove the tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein. We did so openly and decisively. And we did so for pure humanitarian reasons.

We urge the British Prime Minister to review his cabinet's policy on Chechnya.

The international community should stop deceiving itself and its public. Russia's deliberate and systematic policy of collective terror in Chechnya is a crime against humanity that every government in the world is legally bound to confront. Chechnya's struggle is just and deserves sympathy and support of the entire world.

Press-Office (For further information see: Chechen Foreign Minister's Statement On Iraq: 02/04/2003)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria

[19.06.2003 15:09] Press office of Chechen MFA