New human rights report: Russia’s "Divide and rule”-policy turns on the screw of escalation of violence

On the occasion of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Chechnya this Sunday (27.11.2005) the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) takes stock in its new 35-page report of the human rights situation in Chechnya and the effects of the war on the neighbouring republics and Russian society. "The parliamentary elections will not bring peace” fears the human rights organisation. "On the contrary, they will deepen the division of Chechnyan society. For the deliberate ‘divide and rule’- policy of Russia in Chechnya and the neighbouring republics is leading to an increased escalation of violence: Russia’s policy is paving the way for terrorist crime.”

The GfbV calls for a change of course on the part of the new German government towards the Kremlin: "The good relationship with Russia must be used to call for human rights in Chechnya and to draw attention to grievances in Russia.”

The report states that violations of human rights have increased in the weeks preceding the elections. Every night people disappear, who then turn up in the torture chambers of the various Russian, pro-Russian or also Chechnyan groups. In the mountainous region villages are continually being bombed. Not only the most desperate problems of the civilian population, the disappearance of civilians, murders, the arbitrary behaviour of the security forces and the complete lack of any sanctions were taboo in the election campaign. The most important subject also, the search for a peaceful solution of the war, which has now lasted eleven years, is being ignored.

The human right organisation sees it as particularly frightening that racist and anti-Semitic violence has increased considerably in the course of the Chechnyan war. The most recent victim was the 20-year old student and antifascist from St.Petersburg, Timur Katchavara, who was stabbed five times in the throat and died on the spot. The attackers fled and have so far not been identified.

Chechnyan human rights organisations have for years been persecuted and harassed, and now the Russian government is planning to put pressure on Russian organisations. A bill, aimed at making it easy to forbid charitable organisations, passed its first reading on Wednesday, 23rd November.

We shall be glad to send copies of the draft version of our human rights report to those interested.