Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, June 23
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recommended that the Committee of Ministers create the post of Public Prosecutor at the European Court of Human Rights, who would have the task of bringing actions concerning violations of human rights before the Court. The recommendation was made within a discussion on "Areas where the Convention cannot be implemented", such as the Chechen Republic, Transnistria or the northern part of Cyprus.
Tuesday, June 24
The Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted to appoint Andreas Gross of Switzerland as Rapporteur on the situation in Chechnya. Gross replaced Lord Judd, who resigned earlier this year in protest against the efforts of the Kremlin and Moscow-backed Chechen authorities to hold a nationwide referendum on a new Chechen constitution already in March.
Akhmad Kadyrov, head of the Moscow-backed Chechen administration, named Magomed Vakhayev new vice-premier of the government of the Chechen Republic. Since August 2000 Vakhayev has been Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Chechen Republic.
Wednesday, June 25
The State Council of the Chechen Republic, which was created by the Moscow-backed Chechen authorities and held its first session on June 21, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to schedule Chechen presidental election for October.
Thursday, June 26
Russian human rights organization Memorial told a news conference in Moscow that mopping-up operations, "disappearances" and other human rights violations typical of Chechnya started in Ingushetia in June.
Friday, June 27
Unknown assailants killed Said Ibragim Shamayev, the son of Chechen religious leader Akhamed Shamayev, and three of his security guards in the Shatoysky district.
The recently-appointed Mayor of Grozny, Khozh-Akhmed Arsanov, dismissed all his deputies, as well as heads of the city's districts.
Some two hundreds protesters, mostly women, blocked the road from Grozny to Shatoi near the village of Gikalo, demanding the return of their male relatives who disappeared during recent mop-up operations in the village.
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