The appeal of the Chechen hunger strikers in IngushetiaAnnouncement
On June 27, the all-Russian civil society movement “For Human Rights” received an open appeal of the Chechen hunger strikers in Ingushetia, together with their request to deliver the letter to the President of the Russian Federation. On the same day, the original text of the appeal, which was signed by 41 people aged 12-67, was sent to the presidential press service and on June 28 to the distribution department in the Kremlin. The following is the text of the appeal:
President of the Russian Federation
and Russian Army Commander-in-Chief
V. V. Putin
We, refugees from the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, having been forced to act in contrast to our religious beliefs, called a time-unlimited hunger strike with the following requirements:
1) to stop immediately the war in the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria;
2) to launch promptly talks between the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin and the President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria A. Maskhadov.
For nearly two years our two nations have been dragged in this cruel fratricidal war, with the blood of innocent people being spilled in Chechnya. Lawlessness and cruelty give rise to more cruelty. The experience of the two wars has proved that the conflict in Chechnya has no military solution. It is better for us to die of starvation than be killed by Russian soldiers acting upon no court judgement and investigation.
Many times in your speeches, you have declared readiness to hold peace talks with the Chechen nation. So here we are, the nation of people who have been intimidated and driven into a corner. Mr. Putin, if you are really concerned about the Chechen nation, in the name of saving lives of hundreds of thousands of Russians and Chechens, make the brave move worth the Russian President’s standing: Stop the war!
Information agency “For Human Rights”.
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