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Doc. 8777
27 June 2000
Situation in the Republic of Chechnya – implementation of Recommendation 1456 (2000)
Communication
President of the Assembly
Letter from the President of the Parliamentary Assembly to Mr Dmitry Rogozin, Chairman of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, dated 8 June 2000
As you will remember, at its April part-session the Assembly adopted Recommendation 1456 (2000) on the conflict on Chechnya, which you will find enclosed.
At its meetings in Strasbourg on 10 and 11 May 2000, the Committee of Ministers of our Organisation issued a “communiqué” which refers to the situation in the Chechen Republic.
On 16 May 2000, in Dublin, the Standing Committee held an exchange of views on this issue with the outgoing Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, the Irish Foreign Minister, Brian Cowen, and subsequently approved a “Declaration on the conflict in Chechnya”. Both the communiqué and the “Declaration” are also enclosed.
Minister Cowen conveyed the information, given by the Russian authorities at the Committee of Ministers’ meeting, on the efforts already undertaken to normalise the social and economic situation in Chechnya. In this context, the members of the Standing Committee took note of the setting up of different structures entrusted with the investigation of human rights abuses committed in Chechnya.
The Assembly will return to the subject of the situation in Chechnya at its forthcoming session at the end of June. I think it would be useful if you could provide a detailed progress report with regard to the issues raised in paragraphs 19 and 20 of Recommendation 1456 (2000) and, in particular, on the activities and results achieved by the governmental, parliamentary and judicial bodies dealing with the human rights situation in the Chechen Republic.
I hope to see you and your colleagues in the delegation at the session in June.
Signed: Lord Russell-Johnston
Unofficial translation
Letter from Mr Dmitry Rogozin, Chairman of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly to the President of the Assembly, dated 24 June 2000
Dear Mr President,
I thank you for your letter of 8 June.
The information about developments in the Chechen Republic and certain measures undertaken to normalise the situation and secure respect of rights and freedoms of the citizens of the Republic was transmitted at your request to the Chairman of the PACE Political Affairs Committee, Mr Terry Davies, on 10 June 2000, just before the committee meeting in Rome.
On 24 June 2000, a letter by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and factual information “on certain measures of the Russian federal authorities to normalise the political, human rights and socioeconomic situation in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation” were handed over to the President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Mr Lamberto Dini, and to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Walter Schwimmer. I ask you to circulate these texts as official documents of the Parliamentary Assembly.
When the President of the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe were in Moscow, they met with members of the delegation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the PACE together with the Chairman of the Commission of the State Duma on Assistance in Normalisation of the Sociopolitical and Socioeconomic Situation and Respect for Human Rights in the Chechen Republic.
The State Duma is continuing its work on the draft Federal Law “on establishment of the interim executive authorities in the Chechen Republic”, submitted by the President of the Russian Federation Mr Vladimir Putin. This draft law was considered by the Commission of the State Duma on Assistance in Normalisation of the Sociopolitical and Socioeconomic Situation and Respect for Human Rights in the Chechen Republic at its meeting held on 21 June 2000. The members of the commission, having approved the draft law in principle, made a number of substantive observations, which were transmitted to the committee dealing with preparations for consideration of the draft law at the plenary meeting of the State Duma.
The commission has also prepared a draft resolution of the State Duma “on parliamentary interpellation of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the President of the Government of the Russian Federation, Mr Mikhail Kassyanov, about drawbacks in the organisation of work aiming to restore economy and social sphere in the Chechen Republic and to ensure respect for human and civil rights and freedoms in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation”, which will be considered at one of the coming plenary meetings of the Duma.
In September 2000, a parliamentary hearing will take place, at the initiative of the Commission of the State Duma on Assistance in Normalisation of the Sociopolitical and Socioeconomic Situation and Respect for Human Rights in the Chechen Republic under the theme “on progress in restoring economy, social sphere and ensuring respect for human and civil rights and freedoms in the Chechen Republic”.
The plenary meeting of the State Duma will discuss late June two alternative versions of the Law “on the state of emergency”. The law will define procedure and framework for state authorities to act in emergency situations.
A draft federal law has been submitted to the State Duma “on a supplement to the Federal Law on Voluntary Aid (assistance) to the Russian Federation and introducing amendments and supplements to particular enactments of the Russian Federation on taxes and benefits with regard to payments to state extrabudgetary funds for free aid (assistance) to the Russian Federation” – due to the need for humanitarian aid (assistance) to the Chechen Republic. Comments about the draft law are to be submitted to the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes before 20 July. This draft law has been proposed to be included in the legislative programme of the State Duma for the autumn session 2000.
The commissions and committees of the State Duma are drafting a number of other enactments aimed at stabilising the situation in the Northern Caucasus and securing respect for human rights in the region.
On 21 June 2000, the delegation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held a meeting. Taking into account the decision adopted by the PACE at its session in April about the rights of the delegation, it was decided that the delegation would not attend the Assembly session in June 2000. The delegation authorised Mr Robert Nigmatulin, member of the State Dumas, to attend the PACE meetings during the session, where the situation in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation would be discussed.
With respect,
Signed: Dmitry Rogozin
Unofficial translation from Russian
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, to the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, dated 24 June 2000
Mr Chairman,
Mr Secretary General,
You will note that the military stage of the antiterrorist operation in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation has been completed. The planned withdrawal of units of the armed forces from the Chechen Republic to other constituent entities of the Russian Federation is being carried out; as of 23 June 2000, nine regiments had been withdrawn.
Today, principal efforts of the federal authorities are aimed at launching inter-Chechen political dialogue and reconstruction of the socioeconomic infrastructure of the Chechen Republic. Sustainable success in these areas can only be achieved through reestablishment of the system of state authorities in the Chechen Republic in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
On 8 June 2000, the President of the Russian Federation, using his powers to introduce legislation, submitted to the State Duma a draft federal law “on establishment of the interim executive authorities in the Chechen Republic”. Before the adoption and entry into force of the law the issues pertaining to the establishment of the executive authorities in the Chechen Republic are temporarily regulated by the Decree by the President of the Russian Federation, No. 1071, dated 8 June 2000.
The objectives of the decree and the draft law are to protect the constitutional regime as well as human and citizens’ rights and freedoms in the Chechen Republic, to create conditions for the restoration of state and legal institutions there and for rehabilitation of the socioeconomic sphere and efficient administration of the state power.
On 20 June 2000, Head of Administration of the Chechen Republic,
Mufti Akhmed-haji Kadyrov, appointed by the Decree by the President of the Russian Federation, No. 1100, dated 12 June 2000, started his work. In the near future he plans to divest his powers of Mufti and to concentrate on performing his functions of the Head of Administration.
Steps of the federal leadership aimed at creating an efficient system of authorities and protecting human rights in the Chechen Republic match the measures being taken to improve the structure of the federal power of the Russian Federation as a whole. In accordance with the Decree by the Russian President, No. 849, dated 13 May 2000, on establishment of the posts of plenipotentiary representatives of the President of the Russian Federation in federal districts, V.G. Kazantsev was appointed Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District (Decree by the President of the Russian Federation, No. 891, dated 18 May 2000). His competence also comprises practical issues ensuring the process of reconstruction of all aspects of life in the Chechen Republic, including co-ordination of activities of the federal executive authorities, analysis of the efficiency of the activities of law enforcement agencies, control over execution of the federal legislation, implementation of federal programmes on the territory of the district.
While establishing the local authorities, it is necessary to take into account the rather complicated situation in the Chechen Republic. Thus, more than 50 candidates for the posts in the authorities of the Chechen Republic were withdrawn due to a number of reasons, including their participation in illegal armed groups (IAG).
The Bureau of Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Human and Citizens’ Rights and Freedoms in the Chechen Republic, V.A. Kalamanov (established under the Decree by the President of the Russian Federation, No. 364, dated 17 February 2000), is also working actively. Officials of the Bureau receive population, request materials and check information about observance by military authorities and military officials of the norms of the Russian and international humanitarian law.
On 19 June 2000, pursuant to the agreement in the form of exchange letters between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, dated 4 April 2000, three experts from the Council of Europe started working in the Bureau of the Special Representative.
Two regional workshops: on Federalism “Hierarchy of legal norms in federal states and harmonisation methods for federal and regional legislation” (Pyatigorsk,
27-28 April 2000) and “Democracy, rule of law, human rights” (Vladikavkaz,
30-31 May 2000) held under the auspices of the Council of Europe provided a significant impetus to the work of all the federal structures in specific areas.
A comprehensive work in all areas is being carried out to implement the statement made by the Russian President on 13 April 2000, to the effect that “all the facts of violation of human rights and abuses during the antiterrorist operation in the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation, regardless of whoever commits them, are being thoroughly investigated, and, if found true, the guilty will be punished with the full rigour of the law”.
Thus, from August 1999 to 15 June 2000, the Military Prosecutor’s Offices in the Chechen Republic started proceedings on 420 cases of crimes committed by servicemen. Preliminary investigation of 67 criminal cases had been finalised and they had been submitted to military courts. Twenty-one servicemen were convicted.
Twelve criminal cases of crimes committed against the local population in the Chechen Republic over the above-mentioned period are under investigation: 4 murders, 2 cases of manslaughter, 2 larcenies, 1 violation of rules for handling combat and special-purpose vehicles, 2 cases of hooliganism, 1 violation of rules for handling arms. Two servicemen had been convicted.
The criminal case of the colonel Y.D. Budanov charged with the murder of a Chechen woman is under investigation, and after its completion it will be submitted to the court.
Establishment of the Office of the Main Penitentiary Directorate of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation for the Chechen Republic (headed by Ali Iriskhanov) contributes a lot to increasing the level of legal protection of the citizens living in the Chechen Republic.
The Commission of the State Duma on Assistance in Normalisation of the Sociopolitical and Socioeconomic Situation and Respect for Human Rights in the Chechen Republic (headed by A.N. Tkachev) makes a big contribution to co-ordination of state and society efforts aimed at observance of human rights in the Chechen Republic. The State Duma Commission has carried out considerable work collecting, compiling and responding to petitions and complaints of the citizens of the Chechen Republic, which relate to such rights, as right to work and protection against unemployment, right to health protection, right to education, right to life.
Members of the commission pay great attention to the issues pertaining to ensuring citizens’ rights to judicial protection and professional legal assistance.
The National Public Commission on Investigation of Offences and Observance of Human Rights in the Chechen Republic (headed by State Duma deputy P.V. Krasheninnikov) carries out its work in contact with the state law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, but acts independently using its own capabilities, mainly through public organisations.
The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, O.O. Mironov, also dedicates much of his activities to the offences in the Chechen Republic.
In the aggregate, by now the measures taken by the Federal Executive Authorities, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the courts of all levels, Prosecutor’s Offices, the Office of the Military Prosecutor General, the Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Human Rights in the Chechen Republic have led to a stabilisation as regards the human rights in the Chechen Republic and a sharp reduction in the number of offences.
At present the principal attention is paid to taking timely measures on crime prevention and assuring that the criminals would be inevitably punished.
The amnesty, proclaimed by the State Duma in 1999 and prolonged in 2000, for the persons who took part in fighting against the Federal Forces in the Chechen Republic, has played an important role in bringing back to a peaceful life those who did not commit grave crimes or who were forcibly involved in bandit and terrorist groups. More than 1 000 persons have taken advantage of the 1999-2000 amnesty.
Today, in spite of the expiration of the last amnesty the process of exempting from criminal responsibility those members of the illegal armed groups who have not committed grave crimes continues. Thus, on 16 June 2000, 31 detainees charged with participation in the illegal armed groups were released from the pre-trial detention centre in Chernokozovo (the Naursky district). The federal authorities expect these acts of good will would contribute to easing the psychological tension in the Chechen society and to make those who are still hesitant to lay down arms.
It is difficult, of course, to state how many combatants continue active resistance to the federal authorities until the antiterrorist operation in the Chechen Republic is fully completed. According to the estimates of the Russian armed forces as of 15 June 2000, the number of terrorists under command of Khattab, Basaev and Maskhadov amounts to 800 in the Nozhai-Yurtovsky, Vedensky and Kurchaloevsky Districts of the Chechen Republic. Besides that, there are about 450 combatants of Gelaev and Baraev in the neighbourhood of the villages of Urus-Martan, Achkhoi-Martan and Ghehi. There are about 500 bandits in Grozny. About 100 combatants have been detected in the area of the Chechen segment of the Russian-Georgian border. At least 200 terrorists are hiding to the south of Gudermes.
Stabilisation in the Chechen Republic and eradication of a hotbed of terrorism there cost dearly in terms of human lives and casualties. During the antiterrorist operation in the North Caucasus between 2 August 1999, and 22 June 2000, 2 405 Federal Forces servicemen had been killed, and 7 005 had been wounded. These data include information on losses only among the servicemen of the Russian Ministry of Defence and the officers of the Russian Ministry of the Interior.
The Office of the Acting Chief Prosecutor for the Chechen Republic V.P. Kravchenko established in November 1999, by now has carried out considerable work on harmonising the criminal investigation and penitentiary system in the Chechen Republic with the Russian legislation.
There is one functioning Pre-Trial Detention Centre (SIZO) in the Chechen Republic, located in the village of Charnokozovo, the Naursky district. Another pre-trial detention centre, in Grozny, is being restored. Moreover, 18 temporary Interior Ministry divisions have their own temporary isolation wards. There are 156 persons kept in custody in the Chernokozovo Pre-Trial Detention Centre while its capacity is 200 detainees. Sanitary norms are observed. Normal custody conditions, three hot meals daily, bath, health care and legal advice services are assured for all the detainees in the detention centres.
As of 15 June 2000, 36 criminal cases of the members of the illegal armed groups had been submitted to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.
Between 1 January 2000 and 15 June 2000, 384 members of the illegal armed groups had been put in custody, 184 of them had been released under the amnesty. The investigation continues.
Twenty leaders of bandit groups are on the list of the wanted international criminals. More than ten leaders of illegal armed groups have been arrested and their cases are being investigated. At the same time, unfortunately, despite the measures taken against terrorists, not all the combatants have surrendered their arms and submitted to the law.
Unfortunately, the common criminal offences and economic crimes are still quite often among the local population. Thus, in mid-June 2000, in the Chechen Republic the officers of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime for the North Caucasus apprehended in flagrante delicto the official of the Administration of the Mozdok district of the North Osetia Magomed-Rasul Yusupov, Environment Inspector of the Administration of the Nadterechny District of the Chechen Republic Imran Dandaev, his driver and forwarding agent, on charges of illegal production of oil.
On 12 June 2000, thanks to the efforts of the federal authorities the French photographer Brice Fleutiaux was set free. Incidentally, he stayed on the territory of the Russian Federation in violation of not only the prevailing rules for the journalists’ activities in the zone of the antiterrorist operation, but also the common entry visa regime. At the same time, no less than 800 Russian citizens are still held hostage by the terrorists.
The openness of the Russian authorities and their continued readiness for co-operation in the field of human rights has been demonstrated by the close interaction between the Russian Federation and international organisations. At present, the details of the return to the Chechen Republic of the OSCE Assistance Group for Chechnya are being negotiated with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). A number of representatives of the international organisations, including the delegation of the EU Troika ambassadors, visited the Chechen Republic. The representatives of more than 20 international and several Russian non-governmental organisations are constantly working in the Chechen Republic or in the adjacent constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
One thousand and eighty-eight journalists (533 of whom are foreigners) are accredited to work in the zone of the antiterrorist operation. It is assured that special correspondents of foreign media can visit the region on a regular basis.
Your visit to Russia including the trip to the North Caucasus on the eve of the regular session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to be held from 26 to 30 June 2000, has coincided with the fifth anniversary of the tragedy in Budennovsk (the Stavropol Territory of the Russian Federation). Not a single Chechen terrorist has been put in jail after the mass seizure of hostages in the city hospital and the numerous killings of civilians in June 1995. That act of terrorism and a series of the well-known acts of intimidation and aggression which emanate from the Chechen hotbed of international terrorism over the last five years, required enormous efforts from the Russian society to create conditions for the restoration of a normal life in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation.
Some data on the human rights situation, social and economic issues, health care, education and other spheres of public life in the Chechen Republic, as well as the indicators regarding humanitarian aid, including the international one, which is being delivered to the temporarily displaced persons in the Russian Federation, are provided in the factual information.
I hope that this data will help you understand better all the difficulties of the restoration of a peaceful and democratic Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation and will contribute to the adoption at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in June 2000 of the decision to resume the full-fledged participation of the Russian delegation to the PACE in the proceedings of the Assembly.
A similar letter has been sent to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Mr W. Schwimmer.
Mr Chairman, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.
Signed: I. Ivanov
Unofficial translation from Russian
On certain measures of the Russian federal authorities
To normalise the political, human rights and socioeconomic situation in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation
(factual information as of 24 June 2000)
General situation
The federal forces’ operation to eliminate hotbeds of terrorism in the Chechen Republic is continuing.
The bandit groups who are presently dispersed within difficult to access mountainous and forest areas are attempting to “explode” the situation in the flatlands of the Republic.
Emissaries of the illegal armed groups (IAG) helped by foreign extremists continue to recruit foreign mercenaries and ensure availability of financial and material resources.
The extremists are seeking to develop a negative perception by the international community of the results of the counter-terrorist operation, to discredit the actions by the Joint Federal Forces, and to step up the pressure on the Federation by foreign states and international organisations.
Since the start of the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus (in Daghestan and Chechnya) the federal forces’ losses have been as follows: 2 405 dead and 7 005 wounded. Two hundred and ten pieces of armour equipment have been lost.
Some 800 hostages remain in the hands of the terrorists.
Restoration of the state authority structures
For the transition period until complete normalisation of the situation the legal basis for the activities of the authorities in the Republic will be the Law “on the organisation of the interim system of executive authorities in the Chechen Republic”, whose draft was submitted by the President of Russia to the State Duma on 8 June 2000.
Pending the adoption and entry into force of this law, matters of the organisation of the executive authorities in Chechnya are to be regulated by the relevant Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 8 June 2000.
The decree and the draft law seek to protect the fundamentals of the constitutional system and individual human rights and freedoms in the Chechen Republic, and to create conditions for the reconstruction of the state and legal institutions, the economy and the social sphere of the Republic, and to ensure continuous administration of the state authority in the Chechen Republic. It is envisioned, in particular, that the President of the Russian Federation appoints the Head of Administration of the Chechen Republic as an acting head of the supreme executive body of the state authority in the Chechen Republic who, in co-ordination with the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District forms the Republic’s executive authorities and administrations of districts and towns.
Under the Presidential Decree of 18 May 2000, V.G. Kazantsev is the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District.
By the Presidential Decree of 12 June 2000, A. Kadyrov, Mufti of Chechnya, was appointed Head of Administration of the Chechen Republic.
Unlike the decree, the draft law incorporates a provision defining the right of the President of the Russian Federation under Article 55, paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation to decide on exercise of temporary legal constraints by the executive authorities.
Because of the counter-terrorist operation under way in the territory of the North Caucasus region there has been a need to assist the head of state in exercising his constitutional powers as a guarantor of individual human rights and freedoms. To this end, the Russian President’s Decree of 17 February 2000 instituted the post of a Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Ensuring Human and Citizens’ Rights and Freedoms in the Chechen Republic. V.A. Kalamanov has been appointed to this position.
To ensure oversight of the implementation of the Federal Legislation and to protect the constitutional rights of citizens, a Department on Oversight of the Implementation of Laws in the Territory of the Chechen Republic has been formed within the General Prosecutor’s Office – the Directorate on the Oversight of the Implementation of Laws on Federal Security and Inter-Ethnic Relations in the North Caucasus; the head of this department shall perform the functions of the Chechen Republic’s Prosecutor. District Prosecutor’s Offices have been set up in the Chechen Republic.
On 18 February 2000 criminal proceedings were initiated against A. Maskhadov under Article 279 of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation “Organisation of an armed mutiny”. On 10 March 2000, M. Udogov, former Vice-Premier in A. Maskhadov’s government and one of the main inspirators of the IAG attack out of Chechnya on the Novolakski district of Daghestan was indicted in absentio under Article 205 (terrorism) and 279 (armed mutiny) of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation with an arrest warrant issued.
The Prosecutor’s oversight of compliance with the international humanitarian law standards in the armed forces, other services, military units and bodies of the Russian Federation participating in the conduct of the counter-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus is performed by the Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office. International humanitarian law issues have been incorporated into the curricula and programmes of the military training institutions. Representatives of the International Red Cross Committee participate in the training programmes.
In the course of the counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya, military prosecutors have taken up 420 cases. Sixty-seven servicemen have been indicted and will stand trial. The military courts have awarded guilty verdicts to 21 servicemen.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted with respect to the crimes committed by servicemen against the local population; 12 criminal cases are being investigated, of which 4 involve murder, 2 manslaughter, 2 theft of property, 1 violation of combat and special vehicle-handling regulations, 2 hooliganism and 1 violation of weapon handling regulations.
The criminal case against Colonel Yu. D. Budanov accused of killing a Chechen woman is being investigated and upon the completion of the investigation will go to court.
Military Commandants’ Offices have been set in the liberated areas of the Chechen Republic to strengthen law and order and ensure security, and district FSB apparatuses for the Chechen Republic and the relevant Federal Security Service (FSB) Department are in the final stages of establishment. Also operating are the Ministry of Interior (MVD) Department for the Chechen Republic located in Gudermes as well as provisional MVD divisions in districts, a provisional MVD Transportation Unit of the Chechen Republic, and two traffic police units responsible for organisation of traffic and traffic control on the roads of the Chechen Republic.
A territorial Justice Department has been set up and measures are being taken to restore the Tax Police structures in the Chechen Republic.
A Directorate of the Judicial Department within the structure of the Judicial Department of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation was set up in April 2000 to organise courts activities in the Chechen Republic.
Under the Federal Constitutional Law “on the Judicial System of the Russian Federation” of 31 December 1999, the system of federal courts in the territory of the Chechen Republic will be represented by the Supreme Court of the Chechen Republic and 15 district courts. Thus far, facilities are available in the Nadterechny, Naursky, Shelkovskoi and Gudermesski districts.
One of the most important is the provision of a qualified legal advice service to the public, including those suspected or accused of committing crimes in the Chechen Republic. A Lawyers’ Collegium (the Bar) has been re-established in Gudermes for this purpose.
Elections of a State Duma deputy from the Chechen electoral district have been scheduled for 20 August 2000, with a view to gradually returning the political situation in the Chechen Republic within the Constitutional Space of Russia.
Under the State Duma resolution of 13 December 1999 “on the amnesty regarding persons who committed socially dangerous acts in the course of the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus” 150 former IAG members have been amnestied and exempted from punishment. No repeat criminal proceedings have been instituted against the amnestied persons. The amnesty was in effect until 15 May. The prolongation of the amnesty term is being considered.
Reregistering of the population began on 1 January 2000. One hundred thousand blank Russian passports were delivered to Chechnya.
Active in the process of normalising the political situation in the Chechen Republic are the P.V. Krasheninnikov National Public Commission on the Investigation of Violations of Law and Respect for Human Rights in the North Caucasus, and the State Duma Commission on the Assistance in Normalising the Political and Socio-Economic Situation and Respect of Human Rights in the Chechen Republic (the Commission is headed by A.N. Tkachev).
Activities of the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on the Protection of Human and Citizens’ Rights and Freedoms in the Chechen Republic
The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation instituted a post and staff of the Special Representative in Moscow and in the Chechen Republic (with an office in Znamenskoye). The office co-ordinates the work of its staff in Grozny, Urus-Martan, and Kurchaloy and Achhoy-Martan districts.
The Office of the Special Representative works in the following areas:
–co mprehensive assistance to establishing and strengthening the federal judicial system in the republic;–
–or ganisation of legal assistance to the persons held in custody in connection with criminal cases;–
–su pport to the Chechen Republic citizens in locating the whereabouts of their relatives;–
–or ganisation of work to identify offences committed by IAG members, including hostage problems;–
–as sistance in identifying violations of law committed by servicemen and representatives of federal authorities.Th
The Special Representative and his staff receive citizens (more than 4 000 as of
mid-June 2000), regularly visit centres for temporary housing of displaced persons in order to collect first hand information on the human rights situation in the republic. Citizens’ letters and complaints concerning violations of their rights are carefully examined. The information thus obtained is transmitted to law enforcement bodies and the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia for the purpose of their verification and adoption of appropriate measures.
The Special Representative co-operates closely with Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Defence in the investigation of deaths of inhabitants of Aldy, Alkhan-Yurt villages, Mekenskaya Stanitsa in Naursky district and Chervlennaya Stanitsa in Shelkovskoy district.
The Special Representative’s Office pays particular attention to restoring the judicial system in the Chechen Republic. At present the Special Representative, together with the Judicial Department under the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, is engaged in resolving accommodation of judicial courts in the Nadterechniy, Naursky, Shelkovskoy and Gudermesskiy districts of the republic. The Bar has been restored with the direct assistance of the Special Representative’s Office.
Activities of the National Public Commission on the Investigation of Violations of Law and Respect for Human Rights in the North Caucasus
The National Public Commission on the Investigation of Violations of Law and Respect for Human Rights in the North Caucasus was established on 17 April 2000 in accordance with the Federal Law of the Russian Federation “on Public Organisations”.
The commission has elaborated and implements the programme of action which includes the following directions:
–co llection of information on events in the North Caucasus;–
–or ganisation of work of public reception offices in Moscow, other constituent entities of the Federation to receive complaints of citizens, their suggestions and applications (in the near future the commission will open the public reception offices in the republics of the North Caucasus region);–
–ca rry out an independent public investigation of citizens’ complaints on crimes committed in the North Caucasus in the 1990s;–
–pr epare draft laws aimed at normalising the situation in the North Caucasus;–
–or ganise a dialogue with international organisations and public associations, interested in overcoming the crisis in the North Caucasus;–
–wo rk with a view to forming public opinion aimed at easing tensions in the society and counteracting extremist sentiment.Me
Members of the commission visited both the Chechen Republic and also internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Ingushetia, where they spoke to people who suffered from hostilities. As a result of these trips, recommendations to the authorities of the Russian Federation were elaborated, which aimed at alleviating the situation of the IDPs. Meetings were held with representatives of the Chechen Republic’s Parliament in the State Duma, the Chechen community in Moscow, ethnic socio-political movements and business interests, members of delegations, representatives of imams of the Chechen Republic and leaders of the Great Caucasus Ethnic Social Association. Members of the commission co-operate with Russian and foreign media to present their position and inform the public on the situation in the Chechen Republic.
Humanitarian assistance
The humanitarian situation in the region is under the control of the federal authorities.
The assistance is primarily provided by the state (from federal budget resources) and through constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Significant support is rendered by humanitarian agencies of the UN system (OHCR, WFP, Unicef, OCHR), ICRC, and some countries (Italy, Germany, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait), and foreign non-governmental humanitarian organisations (Care-Germany, Care-Austria, Help-Germany, Cap-Anamur-Germany, Lasurus Hilfswerk-Germany, Adra-Germany, Caritas-Austria, Polish Humanitarian Action, Doctors without Frontiers – Belgium, ARA-Japan, Islamic Bank of Development – Saudi Arabia, Inter-Agency Saudi Committee on Aid to Chechnya – Saudi Arabia, Danish Committee on IDPs, Kuwaiti Branch of the Red Crescent, Medicins du Monde – France, Islamic Relief – Great Britain, Islamic Red Crescent, and so on. In total, some 20 organisations).
On the whole, Russian aid comprises some 50% of the total volume. At the same time, the UN share in international aid is more than 80%. However, if one takes into consideration that the Russian Federation covers all the costs associated with the handling of foreign vehicles, their unloading, customs clearance of the aid cargoes, their temporary storage and delivery to final recipients (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of 22 February 2000), the Russian share in the humanitarian operation will become significantly greater than the above-mentioned.
Rules for international humanitarian aid are decreed by Russian legislation and are binding upon any international donor. Reception of international aid for the North Caucasus Region is implemented on the basis of “The Temporary Procedure for Receipt of Foreign Humanitarian Aid Coming to the North Caucasus Region” of 1 December 1999, designed to ensure a speedy delivery of the incoming goods to the internally displaced persons.
Rehabilitation of the economy and social sphere
Measures to rehabilitate the economy and social sphere of the Chechen Republic are arranged in a system in the draft complex of priority measures to normalise the socio-political situation in the territory of the Chechen Republic in the Year 2000.
Implementation of the complex is considered to be the first stage in the implementation of the federal ad hoc programme of restoration of the economy and social sphere in the Chechen Republic, the draft of which is now being developed.
The Governmental Commission on Normalisation of the Socio-Political Situation in the Territory of the Chechen Republic is responsible for the co-ordination of activities of federal executive authorities to implement the single state policies in the Chechen Republic.
In accordance with the draft complex 7 476.8 million roubles are foreseen for the Chechen Republic in the year 2000.1
According to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and in pursuance of the Federal Law “on the Federal Budget for the Year 2000” and the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, a total of 620.7 million roubles has been made available to the Chechen Republic from 1 January to 5 May 2000: including 348.6 million roubles for agriculture, 170.9 million roubles to meet the cost of providing for vital functions of the republic (which ensures the functioning of medical, social, educational and cultural establishments); 48.8 million roubles for the implementation of priority measures to provide for establishment and vital functions of temporary housing.
According to the Ministry of Economics of the Russian Federation, as of today 350 enterprises out of 533, previously functioning in the Chechen Republic, have renewed their work. They provide 23 000 jobs.
Social assistance, employment, rehabilitation and maintenance of social security establishments
According to the information of the Russian Pension Fund 235 million roubles to pay pensions have been transferred to the Chechen Republic as of 20 May.
The Social Security Fund of the Russian Federation opened an account with the cashier’s settling office in the town of Mozdok to pay lump sum childbirth allowances and social grant-in-aid for burial.
In order to guarantee that the state social security payments are fixed and paid, taking into consideration the existing specific situation in the Chechen Republic, the Social Security Fund developed a “Temporary procedure for organisation of work to provide for the state social security payments to the citizens living in the Chechen Republic”.
Public works have been organised in nine areas and two cities of the Chechen Republic (Grozny and Argun).
As of today 11 000 people have participated in the work and have been paid a total of 3 million roubles (273 roubles per person). For the year 2000 it is planned to involve 25 000 people in public works, to be paid a total of 11.3 million roubles. It is evident that even taking into account an increased volume of payment, public works cannot be considered a stable factor of employment.
It is planned to establish four permanent social facilities for 380 persons with a 39.9 million rouble budget in the year 2000.
It is also planned to allocate up to 25 million roubles from centralised resources of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation to repair and restore permanent facilities of social services in the framework of social security programmes for elderly and disabled citizens.
Measures have been adopted to house elderly citizens and handicapped persons in permanent facilities of the North Caucasus Region and in Central Russia.
Emergency actions for the benefit of internally displaced persons
As of May 2000 last, 182 986 people who left their permanent residence but continued to stay in the Chechen Republic were accounted for in the territory of the republic. Out of that number 10 598 persons continue to live in temporary settlements, 157 848 persons rent dwellings in the private sector and 12 953 persons found refuge with relatives. Of the 1 580 persons who left Chechnya for other regions of Russia, seven persons were sent to the centres of temporary housing of the Federal Migration Service.
According to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, 357.8 million roubles to support displaced persons have been transferred since the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation.
Restoration of power supply, gas supply, water supply and sewerage; emergency restoration works on power supply, gas supply and oil production facilities
In order to ensure the restoration work and the further operation of electricity facilities, Grozenergo Ltd. recommenced its operation within the framework of the RAO “UES of Russia”. Some 385 people have been engaged in restoration works. As the result of the conducted activities, 13 power lines were restored and launched into operation under the temporary circuit, as of May 2000. The cost of the conducted works exceeds 100 million roubles. The restoration of power supply facilities of the Chechen Republic will require a total of 1.9 billion roubles in 2000 (excluding the city of Grozny and mountainous areas). As of today, power is supplied to over 1 000 populated localities.
Gas is supplied today to 97 populated localities. From the moment of commencement of deliveries, over 1 222.7 million cubic metres of gas for the amount of 200 million roubles have been supplied to the republic. The total volume of financial spending on the execution of works on gas supply facilities amounts to 96.5 million roubles, and the total for the whole of the year 2000 would equal 218.9 million roubles.
In order to co-ordinate the oil and gas production complex rehabilitation, a representative office of “Rosneft Ltd.” was established for the Chechen Republic.
The oil-and-gas collection system and the production of oil on three fields were restored.
Rosneft Ltd. has spent 108.9 million roubles on restoration works, as of May 2000. The financing of the entirety of works of the fuel and energy complex (FEC) of the Chechen Republic is borne by RAO “UES of Russia”, “Gazprom Ltd.”, and “Rosneft Ltd.”.
Rehabilitation of transport and transport infrastructure
Rehabilitation of railroad transport is a priority area.
A decision has been taken on the establishment of a subdivision of the Mineralnye Vody Rail Road Branch at Gudermes station for the purposes of co-ordination of work of line subdivisions.
Train movement in the territory of the Chechen Republic is carried out 24 hours a day. Work on the restoration of station buildings continues.
The network of automobile roads is being rehabilitated.
Agro-industrial complex
For the purposes of management and co-ordination of works in the agro-industrial complex of the Chechen Republic, a federal state institution “Agro-Industrial Committee of the Chechen Republic” was set up in April 2000.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the delivery of seeds, mineral fertilisers and crop protection agents, spare parts, fuels and lubricants, and agricultural equipment has been conducted in full volume.
An urgent matter is the financing of the year 2000 crop harvesting and the 2001 winter crop planting; the demand in the Chechen Republic for the financial and material-technical support for these purposes amounts to 704.0 million roubles.
Environmental control and elimination of damage to the environment
A State Committee on the Protection of the Environment in the Chechen Republic has been set up.
According to the project of the complex, 9 million roubles have been allocated for activities in the field of environmental control and amelioration of damage to the environment.
Restoration of medical institutions and their functioning
Out of 56 hospitals 37 are functioning; out of 104 paramedic-obstetrical stations – 69, and out of 67 dispensaries – 49. Out of 2 828 physicians 2 150 are in place.
Education
Out of a total number of over 340 schools located in the northern, central and flatlands parts of the republic, 278 are considered to be restored. One hundred and thirty six of them have electricity and 151 have heating.
Out of 8 119 full-time teachers 7 044 are working. 88 610 pupils attend schools.
The possibility of restoration of higher educational establishments buildings and of the scientific and educational basis of specialised ministries and subdivisions of the Academy of Sciences of the Chechen Republic is being considered.
Mass-media support and restoration of communication facilities
Long-distance communication has been established with 10 out of 15 districts of the Chechen Republic. Long-distance communication means have been provided to district administrations, military commandants, “Severny” airport, as well as to public communication stations.
Television relay transmitters are being restored in 17 localities of the Republic. TV broadcasting covers over 40% of the Republic’s territory.
A mobile radio broadcasting station has started its operation.
Six district newspapers have been registered following the requests received by the Provisional Administration of the Chechen Republic.
Development of physical culture, sports and tourism
Positive decisions were taken to include select Chechen athletes into test teams in such sports as weight lifting, boxing, wrestling and judo. This academic year, enrolment of school-graduates from Chechen schools to the higher educational facilities under the Ministry of Sports of Russia will be conducted on preferential terms.
In co-operation with sports societies of Russia, assistance is being extended to sports clubs of the Chechen Republic in the supply of sports equipment.
As of 24 June 2000
Complex assistance extended by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and residents of the North Caucasian region
No. |
Activities |
Number or quantity |
1. |
Activities on housing of involuntary migrants | |
– Organised relocation and housing and support for involuntary migrants |
251 128 persons | |
– Deployed temporary residence villages – |
12 | |
– Returned to places of permanent residence |
47 323 persons | |
2. |
Activities on organisation of catering | |
– Covered by catering |
243 907 persons | |
– Distributed food products |
3 951 911 daily provisions | |
– Deployed catering stations |
23 | |
– Bread baked at restored bakeries |
over 549 tonnes | |
– Equipped food storage facilities |
11 | |
– Restored food industry enterprises |
9 | |
3. |
Medical care activities | |
– Covered by health aid |
59 478 persons | |
– Delivered medical equipment |
103.6 tonnes | |
– Covered by medical sanitation |
916 285 persons | |
– Delivered and deployed field hospitals |
2 | |
– Restored medical institutions |
23 | |
4. |
Water supply activities | |
– Prepared and distributed potable water |
over 370 000 cubic meters | |
– Deployed washing stations |
21 | |
– Inspected water outlets |
14 | |
– Restored water outlets |
2 | |
5. |
Humanitarian aid activities | |
– Total extraordinary humanitarian aid cargo delivered from the Government and Subjects of the Russian Federation including food products |
16 546 tonnes | |
– Organised receipt, customs clearing, and delivery of international humanitarian aid cargo to recipients |
7 741.8 tonnes | |
No. |
Activities |
Number or quantity |
6. |
Radiation and chemical protection activities | |
– Inspected potentially hazardous facilities |
over 20 | |
– Discovered and neutralised containers with active chemical poisoning substances (ACPS) |
57 | |
– Eliminated consequences of terrorist acts with the explosion of ACPS |
3 | |
– Replenished stocks of deactivating agents |
4 tonnes | |
– Established (deployed): |
||
radioactive and chemical reconnaissance groups |
1 | |
monitoring stations |
6 | |
special protection platoons (within MOD forces) |
1 | |
7. |
Demining activities | |
– Investigated territory for explosive objects, total area |
about 1 500 km2 | |
– Inspected residential and administrative buildings |
1 609 | |
– Neutralised explosive objects |
8 998 | |
8. |
Aviation activities of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations | |
– Flights made to the zone of conflict |
451 | |
– Specialists delivered |
4 799 persons | |
– Cargo delivered |
1 156.1 tonnes | |
– Including humanitarian aid cargo |
221.1 tonnes | |
9. |
Rescue and special operations | |
– Found and evacuated to relatives in Subjects of the Russian Federation |
272 persons | |
– Identified and delivered to psychosomatic departments of out-patient clinics |
39 persons | |
– Delivered newspapers, magazines, and other correspondence (12 titles) |
16.2 tonnes | |
Humanitarian Action in the northern Caucasus
Information Bulletin: 1-15 June 2000
Highlights
Russian Government Support IDPs
The Government of the Russian Federation implements various assistance programmes in the northern Caucasus. For example, Emercom, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Health and Federal Migration Service, has provided transport and accommodation to 251 128 IDPs, organised 12 settlements, and assisted some 47 323 IDPs to return to Chechnya. Emercom also supplied food, relief items, and medicines to IDPs, and carried out rehabilitation of food processing enterprises, and medical institutions.
UN “Bestimates” of population in the northern Caucasus
Population figures for the republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia are very difficult to estimate. During the past months, the UN has received information from several sources indicating the number of residents and IDPs in Chechnya, Dagestan, and Ingushetia. The range has been wide. In the case of Chechnya, for example, one government source indicated that there were 240 000 persons while another cited 700 000. An NGO, which has carried out a registration in most parts of Chechnya, considers it possible that there are 700 000 persons there. The UN has compared the various sources with data from the last official census taken in 1989, and considered the number of people who have reportedly emigrated from the region, as well as casualties, and the morbidity and birth rates since 1989. As a consequence of this exercise, the UN considers the figures below a “bestimate” of the situation.
Population |
Number |
Residents in Ingushetia |
320 000 |
IDPs in Ingushetia |
200 000 |
Residents in Chechnya |
350 000 |
IDPs in Chechnya |
150 000 |
IDPs from Chechnya in Dagestan |
6,000 |
IDPs from Dagestan in Dagestan |
6,000 |
Sida delegation visits Ingushetia
The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) facilitated a fact-finding mission of the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) to Ingushetia from 9 to 11 June 2000. Sida held discussions with the Prime Minister of Ingushetia, Minister of the Ingush Emercom, as well as with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and several NGOs. Sida also visited the Severny and Sputnik camps, and a DRC food distribution point in Nazran. According to the Ingush officials, the constant movement of people back and forth makes it difficult to come up with precise figures on the IDP population in the republic. The financial resources of the republic are scarce to cover all the basic needs of the IDPs. Almost 70% of the requirements of the IDPs in Ingushetia are covered by international humanitarian aid. The most urgent needs remain shelter and relief, water and sanitation, and education. The Ingush Government estimated that at least some 40 000 to 50 000 IDPs will stay in the republic temporarily and will need shelter. More than 30 000 IDPs who are under threat of eviction from host families are to be resettled. Another priority for the Ingush authorities is resettlement of some 8 000 to 9 000 IDPs who live in train wagons. The UNHCR plans to assist the government to establish new camps for those IDPs who are in need of shelter.
UN to enhance information coverage of humanitarian action in the northern Caucasus
A joint UNHCR and OCHA mission visited the Russian Federation to assess the need for data collection, management, and mapping. Based on discussions with relevant Russian authorities, donors, UN agencies, and various NGOs, the mission identified the needs that the humanitarian community has in terms of information and data, and made recommendations. These needs include: easier access to existing information and data; consolidation of multi-sectoral data; and mapping and reporting capability for existing data. The OCHA has hired a database specialist to cover some of these needs.
Humanitarian response
Food aid
The World Food Programme (WFP) is currently providing food to 166 000 IDPs in Ingushetia. As of 4 June 2000, WFP had resourced some 85% of the food needs up to 30 June 2000. Since February 2000, WFP has delivered a total of 6 962 MTs of food to Ingushetia. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Islamic Relief, and several other NGOs also provide food to the IDPs in Ingushetia. At the moment, host families receive food from the UNHCR.
At the beginning of June 2000, the People in Need Foundation (PINF) assessed the humanitarian situation in the southern region of Vedeno, Chechnya. An official estimate of the population in the region is 31 000. The PINF estimate is between 26 000 and 27 000 people (including 4 000 IDPs). The main findings are: there are no gas and electricity supplies in the town of Vedeno, which is partially destroyed; although basic food is available at markets, most of the population cannot afford to buy food. A food distribution for 11 450 people in four villages of the region and 500 people in hospitals in Vedeno and Kurchaloy-Yurt followed the needs assessment.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) continues its programme of food assistance in Chechnya. Since the beginning of the operation on 11 May 2000, the DRC has sent four convoys of food to Urus-Martan and Shali regions. 36 792 beneficiaries have received food.
Health and nutrition
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Migration Organisation (IOM) are collaborating on a TB project. WHO is responsible for the training component, namely training in TB diagnostics and TB management. The IOM’s responsibilities and activities are: upgrading the capacity of TB laboratories with equipment and essential laboratory supplies; and conducting a TB-related health education campaign. In that context, the IOM is in the process of finalising the supply list, procurement and delivery of equipment to the identified reference TB laboratories. A TB health education campaign in Ingushetia and North Ossetia started in April 2000, and is expected to finish by mid-July 2000. Currently the IOM is conducting training courses for 27 nurses from Ingushetia. These will be followed by training another 27 nurses from North Ossetia.
Emergency education and psychosocial support
The UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) will be supporting summer camp activities for IDPs in Ingushetia, as well as for children inside of Chechnya. In collaboration with the UNHCR, Unicef will provide assistance to the Ingush Ministries of Education, and Labour and Social Development to equip 27 sites to be used for over 8 500 children. Unicef also intends to support the Agency for Rehabilitation and Development (ARD) to organise summer camp activities for some 140 to 160 children from Grozny. Based on the agreement signed with the Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development (CPCD), 120 Chechen children will continue during the summer months to benefit from psychological counselling and medical assistance at the CPCD centre in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria.
Protection
The UNHCR reported that some 15% of IDPs in Ingushetia do not have valid identification documents. As a result, these people find it very difficult to move or return home because of the threat of detention during verification of their identity. Very often these people have no access to humanitarian assistance. The UNHCR continues to advocate on behalf of these people during its consultations with the government.
Produced by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Moscow
Tel: 956-6405; Fax: 956-6355; email: [email protected]
Please send any contributions for the next bulletin to OCHA by 30 June 2000.
For more information, please contact us directly or refer to www.reliefweb.int
Prepared by the OCHA Moscow, 15 June 2000
1 Increased electricity tariffs, the Ministry of Railways tariffs and the Ministry of Telecommunications of the Russian Federation tariffs, resources of the Reserve Fund of the Government, allocations of state investments and other, are the sources for additional financial resources of the Chechen Republic.