PACE restores voting rights of the Russian delegation
Assembly gravely concerned about human rights in Chechnya, puts the situation under its constant review
"... Taking into account that the State Duma has increasingly become a partner in the Assembly’s push for change, the parliamentarians decided to ratify the credentials of the new Russian delegation." (= to restore voting rights of the Russian delegation [a note by PW])
Strasbourg, 25.01.2001 – The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly today stressed that it remained gravely concerned about the human rights and humanitarian situation in Chechnya, and set up a working group to keep it under constant review. In its ongoing effort to bring about an end to the conflict in the Chechen Republic, the Assembly debated reports on recent developments in this area, by Lord Judd (United Kingdom, SOC) and Rudolf Bindig (Germany, SOC); on the situation of refugees and displaced persons, by Tadeusz Iwinski (Poland, SOC); and on credentials of the Russian parliamentary delegation, by Matyas Eorsi (Hungary, LDR) and Renate Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD). The parliamentarians stressed once again that Russia did not act in line with the Council of Europe’s principles and values in the conduct of its military campaign and that many of the Assembly’s requirements in this regard are yet to be implemented. They pointed out that a combination of ill-disciplined troops and the apparent failure to pursue alleged crimes committed by servicemen created a climate of impunity, leading to more human rights violations, and demanded that it be remedied immediately. The Assembly regretted that very few cases of such violations reached courts and that no indictments were handed down in connection with alleged mass killings. It encouraged victims of such crimes and their families to bring their case directly to courts if the prosecutor’s office failed to do so. At the same time, the Assembly condemned human rights and humanitarian law violations by Chechen fighters, all terrorist acts in Chechnya and threats against members of the Chechen administration, and called for an immediate release of all hostages. The parliamentarians stressed that without a political solution acceptable to the majority of Chechen people there can be no lasting stability in the republic, and that only an elected Chechen government can provide a sustainable basis for civilian order. They called for immediate steps which would lead to free elections and the future self-governing status of Chechnya, such as setting up a consultative body of respected Chechen leaders. The Assembly remained deeply concerned about the continuing serious humanitarian situation of refugees and displaced people. It adopted around twenty recommendations to the Russian authorities concerning humanitarian assistance, future reconstruction and repatriation, and asked the Committee of Ministers to urge Russia to implement them. The parliamentarians also called for increased international presence in and aid to Chechnya, particularly the resumption of UN aid operations. The Council of Europe Development Bank was asked to consider its possible contribution to a long-term reconstruction plan for Chechnya, and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe to look at ways of supporting Chechen refugees through partnerships between European towns and municipalities in North Caucasus. The Assembly took note of some encouraging, if limited, developments in the situation, including move towards establishing civilian administration, judicial system and local police, a reduction in the number of checkpoints, announced withdrawal of some troops and limited access by Russian NGOs to Chechnya. The action by the Office of the Russian President’s Special Representative for human rights in Chechnya, with the participation of three Council of Europe experts, also had a beneficial impact on the human rights situation. The parliamentarians decided to set up a working group made up of seven Assembly members and at least eight members of the Russian State Duma, to monitor the implementation of recommendations on Chechnya and to present regularly a progress report. In particular, the group was asked to provide, before the Assembly’s April session, a detailed account of investigations into crimes committed by the military and special police forces in Chechnya. The parliamentarians also called on the State Duma to review and amend the 1998 Law on the Suppression of Terrorism, taking into account the opinion of the Council of Europe, particularly its Venice Commission. The Assembly asked the Committee of Ministers to continue monitoring Russia’s action and take an active role in ensuring that the Russian authorities hold accountable all those responsible for severe human rights violations in the Chechen Republic. Stressing that it was not satisfied with the overall human rights situation in Chechnya, the Assembly nevertheless believed that the clear efforts of many members of the Russian parliamentary delegation to influence this situation for the better must be acknowledged. Taking into account that the State Duma has increasingly become a partner in the Assembly’s push for change, the parliamentarians decided to ratify the credentials of the new Russian delegation.
Press Contact
Dmitri Marchenkov, Council of Europe Press Service
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 38 44 - Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 90
E-mail: PressUnit@coe.int
Related documents:
Provisional version of the report of the debate of 25 January 2001.
Texts submitted for inclusion in the official report by members who were present in the Chamber but were prevented by lack of time from delivering them.
Resolution on Credentials of the delegation of the Russian Federation
Source: Council of Europe
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