Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, March 4
The US State Department published its annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Russia in 2001, in which it criticises also serious human rights violations during Russia's campaign in Chechnya, including arbitration detentions and killings of civilians.
Having used footage documenting the shooting of injured Russian servicemen, the office of the Russian Prosecutor General has brought new charges against field commander Khattab, this time because of his involvement in kidnapping, banditry, and a life attempt on a member of a law inforcement agency, the office's Vladimir Kravchenko said.
Tuesday, March 5
Exiled Russian media tycoon Boris Berezovski presented at a news conference in London a documentary called „Assassination of Russia“, which he claimed proves the FSB's alleged complicity in the apartment bombings in Moscow and Volgodonsk in September 1999. The documentary, shot by French film-makers Jean-Charles Deniau and Charles Gazelle and based largely on footage from NTV's "Independent Investigation" show, actually contains no direct evidence of FSB's involvement in the attacks but seems to be aimed at raising questions and demanding independent investigation in the case.
The office of the Russian Prosecutor General said it has eyewitness evidence according to which Russian media tycoon Boris Berezovski financed the invasion led by Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev in Dagestan in the autumn of 1999, and they it will ask for an international warrant for Berezovski's arrest if it collects sufficient evidence.
Wednesday, March 6
No major events.
Thursday, March 7
Ichkerian Vice-Premier Akhmed Zakayev took part in a meeting with ICTY’s chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte in the Hague. The meeting, which was organised by English actress Vanessa Redgrave, has come in for a great deal of criticism by Russian representatives, including Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma Dmitri Rogozin.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially criticised the annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Russia in 2001, which was published by the US State Department on March 4 and which criticised also serious human rights violations during Russia's campaign in Chechnya.
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