Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, April 8
The Transnational Radical Party launched a two-day world fast for Chechnya, originally planned for March 12-14, in an effort to make deputies of the European Parliament condemn Russia's conduct in Chechnya.
Tuesday, April 9
German human rights organisation Society for Threatened Peoples ("Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker") held a vigil in Weimar to draw attention to human rights violations in Chechnya on the occassion of the talks between German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Wednesday, April 10
The European Parliament adopted a resolution which states there is no military way to solve the problems in Chechnya and which calls on all parties involved to seek an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to the conflict. The resolution also calls on Russia to prosecute more effectively crimes committed in Chechnya.
Chechnya's constitutional committee has received five draft constitutions of the Chechen Republic, first deputy head of pro-Moscow Chechen administration Taus Jabrailov said. It is expected that the constitutional committee will merge them into a single draft constitution and publish them for comments.
Human Rights Watch issued report "Russia: Investigate sexual violence by troops in Chechnya" according to which Russian forces have raped and sexually assaulted women during winter operations in Chechnya.
Thursday, April 11
The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation turned down the appeal of Chechen field commander Salman Raduyev against his life sentence passed by the Supreme Court of Dagestan on December 25, 2001. Although the appelate court satisfied the call for removal of some items from the sentence, it kept the original period of imprisonment.
Friday, April 12
Russian Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov said a new "counter-propaganda" agency to broadcast into Chechnya, aimed at counteracting Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, will be set up in Rostov-on-Don, according to Alexei Polyansky, spokesman for the Interior Ministry office there. The action is being taken in direct response to Radio Liberty broadcasts, which Russian officials consider biased.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation slammed the April 10 resolution of the European Parliament, claiming it is out-of-date and does not reflect the positive changes in Chechnya as well as the situation in the world after September 11.
The last burning oil rig in Chechnya, Meskety-5, which is located some 4 kilometres of the village Alleroy and had been on fire since 1994, has been put out, CEO of oil company Grozneftegaz Baudi Khamidov told Strana.ru.
The views expressed on this web site are the authors' own, and don't necessarily reflect the views of Prague Watchdog, which aims to present a wide spectrum of opinion and analysis relating to events in the North Caucasus.
