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28.01.2005 Strasbourg approves Chechnya declaration At the proposal of its Sub-Committee on Human Rights, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly approved the following declaration: "The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly is dismayed by the recent spate of new, grave human rights violations in the Chechen Republic. It is particularly shocked about the targeting of human rights defenders by acts of repression, in particular the abduction on January 20 of Makhmut Magomadov, and the raid on the same day by FSB officers of the Nizhny Novogorod office of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society. Recalling Assembly Resolution 1403 on the human rights situation in the Chechen Republic, it condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent abduction, allegedly by employees of the power structures under control of Ramzan Kadyrov, of at least eight relatives of Aslan Maskhadov (including his sister Buchu Alievna Abdulkadirova, 67 and his brothers Lecha Alievich Maskhadov, 68, and Lema Alievich Maskhadov, 55). In view of the serious allegations of human rights violations including torture, rape, «disappearances» and killings committed by forces under the command of Ramzan Kadyrov (the so-called «Kadyrovtsy»), the Committee is outraged by reports of the award of the «Hero of Russia» decoration to him. It insists that, rather than giving out awards, immediate measures are required ensuring that full, thorough and effective investigations into these allegations take place and that those responsible for violations be brought to justice. Given the further deterioration of the situation in the Chechen Republic, the Committee recalls the importance of continued international protection for refugees from this region. The continued de facto application of the internal residence permit (former «propiska») system in the Russian Federation makes an internal flight alternative unavailable in most cases.” The violent events in the city of Blagoveshchensk (Bashkortostan) on 10-14 December 2004 are a terrifying example of the spread of the climate of impunity in the Chechen Republic to other regions of the Russian Federation. They must be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice. The Chechen Times Russia Criticizes PACE Statement on Chechnya Created: 28.01.2005 16:26 MSK (GMT +3), MosNews The Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has criticized a statement on Chechnya made by the PACE Commission on Legal Issues and Human Rights. The delegates have questioned the advisability of debating this statement at PACE's sessions. The authors of the statement adopted on Thursday wrote on serious violations of human rights in Chechnya. They proposed to take urgent measures to carry out a comprehensive and effective investigation into this information and bring those responsible for these violations to justice.