FSB Raids the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society
20 January, 2005, Vienna. On January 20, 2005 in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation, the Federal Security Service (FSB) removed a number of documents from the office of the Russian–Chechen Friendship Society, a particularly active local human rights group that provides daily press-releases on the human rights situation and humanitarian assistance in the Chechen Republic. The human rights defenders are faced with a criminal case.
'This raid is part of an increasingly destructive pattern of intimidating the human rights community is seeking justice and peace in Chechnya,' according to Aaron Rhodes, director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF).
The group received the 2004 Recognition Award of the IHF, which said: 'Your work on behalf of victims and to promote tolerance and peace reflects the transcendent values of our civilization. It evokes feelings of solidarity and sympathy more powerful than hatred, fear and revenge'.
Details:
On January 20, 2005, Stanislav Dmitrievsky, Co-Chair of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society and Chief Editor of the Human Rights Defense newspaper was requested to come to the office of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional FSB Department at 2pm. The invitation was made over the phone. Dmitrievsky was told that the FSB wanted to discuss several articles published by the Human Rights Defense newspaper in 2004. He was also informed that a criminal case was initiated in connection with the said publications, and he was called to give a witness statement within the framework of that case. Even though this was not an official summon, Dmitrievsky chose to abide by the FSB request in order to avoid potential complications.
At the Nizhny Novgorod Regional FSB Department he was received by Putanov, senior investigator of the FSB on particularly serious cases. Putanov refused to tell Dmitrievsky on which article of the Russian Criminal Code the case was actually initiated. He did not provide any information as to the essence of the case. He directly proceeded to asking questions with regard to two statements by Chechen separatists leaders published in the Human Rights Defense newspaper, namely, Akhmed Zakaev"s call to the Russian people not to vote for Vladimir Putin in the presidential elections and Aslan Maskhadov"s call for peace addressed to the European Parliament. Putanov also inquired whether Dmitrievsky was familiar with the restrictions imposed on activities in the sphere of
information and media by the relevant Russian legislation. Dmitrievsky replied that he was indeed aware that Russian legislation in this sphere bans war propaganda as well as propaganda of ethnic or religious hostility. In response Putanov asked whether Dmitrievsky would agree that the given publications fell within that particular category. Then, he presented Dmitrievsky with a warrant for seizure of the newspaper"s registration documents and suggested that Dmitrievsky accompany the FSB staff to the Russian Chechen Friendship Society Office to be present at the seizure.
The procedure started in the presence of witnesses at 5pm on 20 January. The FSB seized the newspaper statute, registration documents, internal regulations, and labour contracts with the personnel of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society Information Unit responsible for the publications of the newspaper and the daily news releases in the Internet, including their correspondents in the Chechen Republic.
The Human Rights Defense newspaper was founded by the Nizhny Novgorod Human Rights Society and is published based on a cooperation agreement between the Nizhny Novgorod Human Rights Society and the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society. The newspaper is mainly devoted to the situation in and around Chechnya, with a special emphasis on the human rights component. It is widely disseminated in Nizhny Novgorod and in the Chechen Republic.
Conclusion:
The IHF is deeply concerned about persecutions of human rights defenders who report to the international community on the human rights situation in Chechnya. The seizure of documents from the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society followed soon after the January 13 illegal FSB armed search of the offices of the Council of Non-governmental Organizations (SNO) in Nazran, Ingushetia (http://www.ihf- hr.org/documents/doc/summary.php?sec/id=3&d_id=4009). A pattern of repression against human rights defenders is evident and calls for a strong reaction by the international community.
For further information:
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
In Vienna: Aaron Rhodes, IHF Executive Director, +43–1–408 88 22 or +43-676–635 66 12; Henriette Schroeder, IHF Press Officer, +43–676–725 48 29
In Moscow: Tanya Lokshina, +7-916–624 19 06
Russian-Chechen Friendship Society, Oksana Chelysheva, +7-920-254 34 13
Source: IHF (T) |
