Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, March 31
No major events.
Tuesday, April 1
The constitution which was adopted in a referendum held in Chechnya on March 23 came in force, accordin to Russian sources.
Wednesday, April 2
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) expressed support to Rudolf Bindig's proposal to consider establishing an ad hoc war crimes tribunal for Chechnya "if the efforts to bring to justice those guilty of human rights abuses are not intensified, and the climate of impunity in the Chechen Republic prevails." Russian representatives condemned PACE's resolution and the head of the Russian delegation in PACE Dmitry Rogozin said on April 3 that Russia would stop cooperating with PACE on Chechnya issues.
Thursday, April 3
Eight or nine people died when a bus carrying local construction workers ran over a remote-controlled land mine in Grozny. The bus was returning to the Chechen capital from Russia's main military base in Chechnya, Khankala.
Friday, April 4
Interior Minister of the Chechen Republic Ruslan Tsakayev has sent in a letter of resignation, head of the Moscow-backed Chechen government Akhmad Kadyrov announced. Later Tsakayev explained that he was against taking on Chechen guerilla fighters who had been granted amnesty. Tsakayev, who was appointed head of the newly former ministry on December 16, 2002, will work in Moscow, the Russian Interior Ministry said.
Musa Gazimagomadov, who has been commanding the Chechen special police forces OMON since 2000 and was seriously injured in a car accident in the Naursky district of Chechnya on March 9, died in a Moscow hospital.
The payment of compensations to Chechen citizens for their house destroyed during the "counter-terrorist operation" will start in October-November 2003, said Russian Minister for Chechen issues Stanislav Ilyasov after a meeting with Russian Premier Mikhail Kasyanov.
Saturday, April 5
No major events.
Sunday, April 6
Chechen rights defenders published in Nazran a statement expressing support to PACE's proposal for establishing an ad hoc war crimes tribunal for Chechnya.
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