Sultygov's office may reopen under Kadyrov later this yearTimur Aliyev, North Caucasus - The office of Abdul-Khakim Sultygov, special representative of the Russian President for the protection of human rights in Chechnya, which had been officially terminated by President Putin a month ago, might continue its activities later this year. A meeting was held on February 11 with former staff members and Chechen government officials during which a preliminary agreement was reached.
The staff described their former activities to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Moscow-backed Chechen government Bilkis Baydaeva, the head of Akhmad Kadyrov's administration Ziyad Sabsabi, and Chechen Minister for Nationalities Taus Jabrailov.
They also proposed creating a new commission made up of employees of the dissolved office that would become part of the administration of Akhmad Kadyrov.
Jabrailov said that creating this commission is a possibility, but it would not happen any earlier than autumn of this year. Chechen parliamentary elections will probably be held in October, and the makeup of the new parliament will provide for a human rights representative, he explained.
The Office was closed on January 21 following Putin´s decree, which stated that a special human rights representative in Chechnya was no longer necessary.
The post of the special representative of the Russian President for the protection of human rights in Chechnya was created in early 2000 when Putin, under international pressure, appointed Vladimir Kalamanov; and in July 2002, Sultygov replaced Kalamanov. (H/E,T) |
