WRITTEN QUESTION E-1274/00

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(27 April 2000)

Subject: Denunciation of Russian atrocities in Chechnya

Press reports of 30 March indicated that Amnesty International, in agreement with its Russian branch and using the testimony of survivors as its basis, recently denounced summary executions, torture, rape of women and men and indiscriminate bombing of civilians and refugees in Chechnya, comparing the current levels of repression with the worst of the Stalin era.

Is the European Union aware of these accusations, and does it endorse them? What specific action is it seeking to undertake to put an end to this tragic situation?

Reply

(29 September 2000)

The Council is fully aware of the accusations made by Amnesty International, and regards them with all due gravity. The Presidency has received a letter from a group of 29 NGOs, headed by Amnesty International that presents a detailed list of alleged human rights abuses committed in Chechnya by Russian forces. The Presidency responded to the NGO coalition on behalf of all Member States on 17 May 2000. A copy of the original letter and the Presidency reply are joined to this answer.

As underlined in answers to previous parliamentary questions, the Council and Member States of the Union have acted decisively on a number of fronts in order to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The Council has also been constantly forthright in condemning the alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya.

In the Council of Europe, when Ireland was the Chair in Office, Ministers met with Foreign Minister Ivanov to present their concerns. They continue to follow developments in Chechnya with the closest attention, and in June will report to the part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly, as requested in paragraph 24 of Recommendation 1456. In the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, the EU proposed a resolution on Chechnya that was adopted in the 56th session on 25 April 2000. The EU has again raised the subject of Chechnya at its summit with Russia on 29 May.

Such concerted pressure may be seen to have yielded some demonstrable results. In a statement made on 13 April 2000, President Putin undertook that all facts of violations of human rights and abuses in the course of the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasian region of the Russian Federation, whoever commits them, are thoroughly investigated and, if confirmed, all the rigours of the law will be applied to the guilty. Access to the region has been granted to international visitors, including the fact-finding visits to Chechnya by EU ambassadors to Moscow and an ECHO assessment team. The State Duma of the Russian Federation has created a Commission on Human Rights, Displaced Persons and the Normalisation of Social, Political and Economic Situation in the Chechen Republic. Also, on 17 April 2000, the creation was announced of a National Public Commission for Investigating Crimes and Monitoring Human Rights in the North Caucasus, chaired by the former Minister of Justice, Mr Krascheninnikov, and supported by President Putin.

In spite of these positive developments, there are no grounds for complacency. The international community faces difficult challenges such as achieving implementation of the commitments made by Russia, preventing the spread of conflict to neighbouring areas, and ensuring regional stability. To this end, the EU and its Member States are cooperating fully with the OSCE, of which Austria is the Chair in Office. For as long as it may take, the Council will continue to press determinedly for a durable and equitable settlement in Chechnya.