GROZNY. May 25 (Interfax-South) - A delegation from the Commission of the European
Committee Against Torture has arrived in Chechnya on a two-day
inspection tour.
The delegation has visited a detention facility in Grozny and inspected the living
conditions of inmates accused of organizing and committing terrorist acts, Head
of the Chechen Department for the Execution of Punishment Ali Iriskhanov has told
Interfax. The delegates have read the prisoners' personal files and have
examined
prisoners.* No signs of torture were found.** The delegation did not make
any statements for the press, but said in private talks with representatives of
the Chechen prison authorities that the prisoners' living conditions were close
to the requirements fixed by the European Committee. Zdenek Hatek of the
Czech Republic, who is leading the delegation, said*** that the delegates will
also visit the detention facility in Chernokozovo.**** A report will be submitted
to the European Committee.*****
* Oh, yes. While the other ones, if still alive, were waiting in some secret cellar
downstairs.
** Of course. And its quite easy to immagine how, when the delegation has left,
the signs of torture would suddenly appear if these prisoners would not present
the "appropriate" versions of facts.
*** Good idea Mr. Hatek to announce your arrival! The "gentlemen" of Chernokozovo
will certainly clean up the torture chambers in time.
**** Already done in other occasions. They obviously didn't notice anything ....
except the prisoners strange tendency of trying to whisper them something
when their jailers were looking the other way.
***** I suppose they will tell us about the "improvement and progress" they noticed
in Chechnya. That's after all what they have found in the almost last
ten yeras now.