Calendar of Events - September 2001
This schedule of major events related to the conflict in Chechnya is continuously updated and completed. Announcements for planned or expected events or any other suggestions are most welcome (e-mail: mail (at) watchdog.cz)
September 3, Helsinki, Finland
Finnish movement "Rauha Tshetsheniaan" ("Peace for Chechnya") stages a demonstration on the occassion of a visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Finland (Sept 2-3). The demonstrators, who are ready to hand over to Presidents Putin and Halonen an appeal calling for an end of the war and political solution of the crisis as well as for investigation into all war crimes by an international body, begin their protest at "Kolmen sepän patsas" (the Statue of Three Smiths) in the city centre at 5 p.m.
September 6, Chechnya
10th anniversary of the restoration of state independence of the Chechen nation (declared by first Chechen President Jokhar Dudayev in 1991).
September 7, Tbilisi, Georgia
The international Peace March Nazran - Baku - Tbilisi - Strasbourg (a modified version of the thwarted Peace March Grozny - Moscow) starts in Georgia.
September 10-11, The Hague, the Netherlands
Meeting of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. The meeting is closed to the press and starts at 9:30. Its busy agenda includes the situation in Chechnya.
Source: Council of Europe. Contact: Sabine Zimmer, tel.: +33 3 88 41 25 97; sabine.zimmer (at) coe.int
September 13-14, Moscow
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Alvaro Gil-Robles will be in Moscow to discuss with
the Russian authorities the current situation in Chechnya and chart a plan for future action to restore the rule of law and respect for human rights in that republic. Mr Gil-Robles will meet Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov and Russian presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky. He will also have meetings with members of the Russian State Duma and the Parliamentary Assembly-State Duma Joint Working Group on Chechnya, which will also be visiting the Russian Federation.
Source: Council of Europe. Contact: Angus Macdonald, tel.: +33 3 88 41 34 39; angus.macdonald@coe.int
September 15, Nazran, Ingushetia
The Chechen National Congress, whose participants should be selected representatives of Chechen towns and villages, religious figures and elders and also representatives of Chechen communities in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhastan, Georgia and other countries, holds its session. The goal of the Congress is to stop the war in Chechnya, find a political solution to the conflict and work out principles of future relations between Russia and Chechnya. More info is available at the website of Radio Svoboda (in Russian).
September 17, Strasbourg, France
Said Emin Ibraghinov, president of the "Comité tchétchene des Droits de l'homme", launches an unlimited hunger strike in front of the entrance to the Council of Europe.
Source: Comité Tchétchénie de Strasbourg. Contact: andreegrossiord@evc.net
CANCELLED*
September 21, Prague, the Czech Republic
Chechen refugees residing in the Czech Republic hold a rally against the war in Chechnya. The event, which is backed by the Organisational Committee SOS Chechnya (the Czech Republic), takes place in the Náměstí Míru square (="Square of Peace" in Czech) at 16:45-17:30.
Contact: mail (at) watchdog.cz
CANCELLED*
September 21, Strasbourg, France
Participants in the Peace March are to arrive in Strasbourg (via Tbilisi, Baku, Warsaw, Berlin).
September 21-22, Strasbourg, France
Consultations on a political solution to the conflict in Chechnya.
Source: Council of Europe. More info: http://press.coe.int/cp/2001/653a(2001).htm
September 24-28, Strasbourg, France
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe holds its fourth session (in 2001) with Progress report on the conflict in the Chechen Republic presented by Lord Judd and Mr Dmitri Rogozin on the agenda (Sept. 27). Find more detail at http://stars.coe.fr/index_e.htm
Source: Council of Europe. Contact: pressunit@coe.int
September 28, Bern, Switzerland
Press-conference on violations of the Geneva Conventions in
Chechnya organised by the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV). Participants are Ilyas Akhmadov, Chechen foreign minister, Zainap Gaschaeva, human rights activist, Ruth-Gaby Vermot, member of parliament and president of GfbV Switzerland and Hanspeter Bigler, Secretary General of GfbV Switzerland.
September 27, Strasbourg, France
A round table workshop with the Chechen marchers, political representatives of the Chechen people, Chechen refugees from various European countries, Russian members of parliament who oppose the war, representatives of several NGOs, etc. The event is organised by the Chechnya Committee of Strasbourg. Source: Comite Tchechenie de Paris. More info: http://tchetchenieparis.free.fr [Agenda].
*CANCELLED due to the tragedy in the USA.
Compiled by Prague Watchdog
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