European Parliament resolution on the forthcoming trial of Alexander Nikitin
Date: 1999-11-18
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Russia, human rights, restriction of liberty, right to justice

7.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 189/237

Thursday 18 November 1999

9.
Expresses its strongest support to the UN envoy to Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, in his undertakings to
establish as soon as possible a legal interim government in which all political groups of Kosovo should be
represented, and asks him, though only in the event that no local representative can be found, to name a
representative of UNMIK as interim mayor;

Is of the opinion that the European Union should reconsider its funding for reconstruction work in

10.
Kosovo if the human rights situation of all the inhabitants of the province does not improve drastically;

Urges the Commission and the Task Force for Reconstruction to give preference, with the exception
11.
of humanitarian assistance, to reconstruction projects in those municipalities that are trying to favour a
climate of cooperation among the different ethnic groups, opposing expulsions and preventing violence;

Expresses its solidarity with all representatives of international organisations and NGOs who are
12.
actively contributing to the reconstruction of Kosovo, often in very difficult and dangerous circumstances;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the OSCE, KFOR

13.
and the Secretary General of the UN.

10. Human rights: Alexander Nikitin

B5-0290, 0291, 0295 and 0302/1999

European Parliament resolution on the forthcoming trial of Alexander Nikitin

The European Parliament,

0 having regard to its resolutions of 16 November 1995 (1), 15 February 1996 (2) and 18 September
1996 (3) on the harassment of the Bellona Foundation, the arrest of Alexandr Nikitin and the case of
Alexandr Nikitin respectively,

0 having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and the Russian Constitution, particu-

larly Articles 15(3), 54 and 123(3) thereof,

A.

B.

expressing its satisfaction that the case of Alexandr Nikitin is being tried by a civilian judge at the
St Petersburg City Court,

understanding the importance of this case to the development of the rule of law in the new demo-
cratic Russia,

C. whereas Mr Nikitin is still required not to leave the city,

D. whereas Mr Nikitin is, for the eighth time, being charged with treason; whereas the new indictment

has not been made available to him before the trial,

E. whereas, on 26 July 1999, Mr Nikitin appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to remedy the

violations of his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights;

Asks the Russian authorities to guarantee Alexandr Nikitin an impartial and public trial based on the

1.
principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Russian Constitution;

Urges the Russian authorities to give Alexandr Nikitin full access to the indictment and to the legal

2.
foundation of the charges against him;

(1) OJ C 323, 4.12.1995, p. 112.
(2) OJ C 65, 4.3.1996, p. 162.
(3) OJ C 320, 28.10.1996, p. 196.

C 189/238

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

7.7.2000

Thursday 18 November 1999

Calls on the Russian authorities to dismiss the charges against Alexandr Nikitin based on secret retro-

3.
active decrees;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Government of

4.
Russia, the Council of Europe and the Bellona Foundation.

11. Burundi

B5-0267, 0285, 0293 and 0301/1999

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Burundi

The European Parliament,

0 having regard to its earlier resolutions on the situation in Burundi,

A. whereas an internal conflict has been raging in Burundi since 1993, in which more than 200 000
people have been killed and over 800 000 people displaced, the majority of them facing famine and
disease,

B. whereas the conflict entered a new stage in May 1999 as the different militia groups intensified their
military activities in several parts of the country as well as the capital Bujumbura, to which the army
responded with clearing operations and further regrouping of people in so-called protected camps in a
controversial attempt to separate the civilian population from the rebels,

C.

appalled by the recent massacre of a large number of civilians in Bujumbura and the murder of nine
people, including a representative of Unicef and a WFP official, in the province of Rutana, in south-
east Burundi,

D. whereas on 25 October 1999 the UN special rapporteur for human rights in Burundi drew attention
to the current human rights disaster in that country, in particular the mass summary executions com-
mitted by both militias and sectors of the army, illegal arrests, torture and unacceptable prison condi-
tions,

E. whereas efforts to bring stability to the region must be based on justice and the prosecution of those

responsible for the ethnic violence,

F. whereas peace talks on Burundi have been under way in neighbouring Tanzania, but have so far failed

to reach a comprehensive agreement,

G.

expressing concern at the difficulties 0 due mainly to the absence of security 0 which most humani-
tarian organisations are experiencing in bringing aid to the people in need;

Condemns the acts of violence committed against civilians and the murder of nine civilians, including

1.
a representative of Unicef and a WFP official, in the province of Rutana, in south-east Burundi;

Calls for an independent inquiry into the assassination of UN aid workers and Burundian civilians in

2.
the refugee camp in southern Burundi;

Urges the Burundian authorities to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the population
3.
and to comply with the guidelines laid down by the UN special rapporteur in order to improve the appal-
ling human rights situation in the country;

4.
Calls on all parties to the conflict to engage in and conclude the peace process so that the EU can
actively assist, together with other international agencies, in bringing about peace and stability in Burundi;