Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya
Monday, Dec 17
Russian authorities admitted that human rights violations did occur during the recent “special operation” in Argun on Dec 11-16, 2001 and said that investigation into them had been launched.
Tuesday, Dec 18
Unidentified masked men broke into the house of the Ezhiyev family in Serzhen-Yurt and shot dead Akhmed Ezhiyev, brother of the chairman of the regional branch of the Society of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Imran Ezhiyev.
Wednesday, Dec 19
Russian Human Rights Centre “Memorial” informed that human rights organisations and the prosecutor’s offices operating in Chechnya launched cooperation. At the same time, human rights violations in Chechnya continue and control of power structures in the republic seems to be lost, Memorial said, expressing concern especially about the activities of “death squads” formed by Russian power ministries and engaged in kidnapping, torture and killing of people as well as in setting houses on fire and blowing them up.
Thursday, Dec 20
Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights in Chechnya Vladimir Kalamanov said that living conditions in Chechen refugee camps were horrific, thus putting the stability in the region as well as people’s trust in federal authorities at risk.
Amnesty International expressed concern about the fate two Chechen women seized by Russian soldiers in Serzhen-Yurt on Nov 9. Eset Yahyayeva, 45, and Milana Betirgiriyeva, 21, have not been seen since, Amnesty said, adding that many Chechen
civilians had been found dead after arrest by Russian troops.
Friday, Dec 21
The European Commission announced that it had allocated another 7.5 million euro for assistance covering the most urgent humanitarian needs of internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups in Chechnya itself and to refugees in neighbouring republics for the period till spring 2002.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) agreed to Russia's proposal to change the earlier unlimited mandate of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya to a mandate expiring at the end of 2002.
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