Views vary on the new Chechen amnestyRuslan Isayev, North Causasus – The new amnesty recently adopted by the Russian Parliament provoked various reactions in Chechnya and the neighbouring region.
For example, the Ingush president Murat Zyazikov at his last press conference announced that he fully supports it. "Amnesty is right and a good thing, and one of the ways of achieving peace."
However, the inhabitants of Chechnya and the refugees in Ingushetia are not of such a straightforward opinion. Most do not assume that amnesty will greatly alter the situation in the republic and, in fact, expect that rebel resistance toward the Russian soldiers will intensify even more.
Chechens do not believe the Russian leadership,and are convinced that
amnesty was announced only so that the Russian soldiers who caused so many
crimes against humanity in Chechnya could be found innocent. And the people
are essentially against this, saying that while partisans are fighting armed
enemies, Russian soldiers are committing all sorts of heinous crimes against
unarmed civilians.
According to disclosures made by the Russian human rights organization
Memorial,
as of now 52 soldiers have been prosecuted for criminal offences committed
in Chechnya, but so far only 19 were found guilty and convicted.
Very few people in Chechnya believe that this amnesty announcement will
cause members of the resistance to lay down their arms en masse. "A true
fighter will never lay down his weapons and will never give up resisting,"
proclaimed the rebel leaders. And according to them, when Russian
television stations show some partisans allegedly giving up their weapons,
they're certain this is just an isolated case. (A,E/T) |
