Rights Groups Criticize Britain Over Chechnya Statement
posted by zaina19 on December, 2005 as Human Rights
Thursday, 08 December 2005 Rights Groups Criticize Britain Over Chechnya Statement Chechnya -- election posters for nov. 2005 parliamentary poll Election posters for the November 2005 parliamentary elections (file photo) (RFE/RL) Prague, 8 December 2005 (RFE/RL) -- A group of Russian and Western rights organizations has written an open letter criticizing the EU's British Presidency for its optimistic assessment of the recent legislative polls in Chechnya.
In an open letter to British Foreign Minister Jack Straw dated 7 December, the groups say the assessment "calls the EU's commitment to human rights, democracy, and rule of law into question."
Britain, as EU president, welcomed the 27 November elections as "an important step towards broader representation of a range of views in Chechen society." It also said that "the further strengthening of democratic institutions, as part of an inclusive political process, is essential for the sustainable and peaceful long-term development of Chechnya as well as to peace and stability in the North Caucasus region as a whole."
The rights groups, which include the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Russia's Memorial, say what Britain calls Chechnya's political process "is a tightly controlled cosmetic measure that has resulted in the establishment of a brutal regime, responsible for systematic and grave human rights abuses." They also say that "the loyalist regime established in Chechnya [by Russia] depends on fear and violence to make up for its lack of legitimacy."
The pro-Kremlin Unified Russia party has won 33 of the new Chechen parliament's 58 seats.
First Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov, whom rights groups hold responsible for much violence in Chechnya, was elected the party's chief regional representative on 7 December. http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/12/D55BF458-6D8B-4353-ABB7-8C393E4B241A.html
Acknowledgement: All available information and documents in "Justice For North Caucasus Group" is provided for the "fair use". There should be no intention for ill-usage of any sort of any published item for commercial purposes and in any way or form. JFNC is a nonprofit group and has no intentions for the distribution of information for commercial or advantageous gain. At the same time consideration is ascertained that all different visions, beliefs, presentations and opinions will be presented to visitors and readers of all message boards of this site. Providing, furnishing, posting and publishing the information of all sources is considered a right to freedom of opinion, speech, expression, and information while at the same time does not necessarily reflect, represent, constitute, or comprise the stand or the opinion of this group. If you have any concerns contact us directly at:
eagle@JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com