Recommendation 1678 (2004)

The political situation in the Chechen Republic: measures to increase democratic stability in accordance with Council of Europe standards

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Assembly debate on 7 October 2004 (30th Sitting) (see Doc.10276, report of the Political Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Mr Gross). Text adopted by the Assembly on 7 October 2004 (30th Sitting).

1. Referring to its Resolution 1402 (2004) on the political situation in the Chechen Republic, the Parliamentary Assembly considers that the Russian Federation must continue to benefit from the Council of Europe’s assistance and co-operation programmes in order to improve the political situation in the Chechen Republic. It states that aid and co-operation programmes of the Council of Europe with regard to the Chechen Republic contribute to the improvement of the political situation there and believes that the Russian Federation should continue to apply these programmes.

2. The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

a. analyse the effectiveness of the Council of Europe co-operation programmes with the Russian Federation concerning the Chechen Republic in order to adapt them to current needs;

b. set up a programme of co-operation with the Russian Federation concerning assistance projects in the Chechen Republic, which are aimed at:

a. strengthening the fight against terrorism and organised crime;

b. increasing awareness among political leaders of the vital importance of the rule of law;

c. providing police with training in human rights;

d. providing university and school teachers with educational support, particularly in subjects relevant to democratic citizenship;

e. establishing projects for building up public confidence and reconciliation;

f. providing teachers and religious communities with assistance in teaching religious tolerance and secularism;

g. establishing projects for young political and social leaders in Chechnya;

c. call on the Russian Federation to accede to the Council of Europe’s Agreement establishing the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) to actively fight corruption and organised crime;

d. call on member and Observer governments to allocate financial assistance programmes for the Chechen Republic in order to strengthen democracy, good governance and the rule of law as well as for direct humanitarian aid;

e. call on member and Observer governments to work towards stopping the proliferation of heavy weapons and small arms in the Chechen Republic and to assist the competent authorities in collecting and destroying land mines in Chechnya.