22:10, 25 November 2009

Hammarberg: Russia is not active enough in enforcing stability in Northern Caucasus

Moscow, Novopushkinskiy Mini-Park, July 16, 2009. Rally in memory of assassinated human rights advocate Natalia Estemirova. Journalists removing the placards with slogans against Russian policy in the territory of Caucasus. Photo by the "Caucasian Knot"

Russia should strain harder towards stability in Northern Caucasus. This was stated by Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner of the Council of Europe on Human Rights, in his report published on November 24 on the outcomes of his visit to Chechnya and Ingushetia in September 2009.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Thomas Hammarberg visited Chechnya and Ingushetia on September 7-11 and had meetings with local leaders and human rights activists.

According to Commissioner Hammarberg, this year Chechnya has seen more terror acts, murders and kidnappings than in 2008. In his opinion, the authorities should not only protect the population from terror acts and actions of illegal armed groups, but also ensure complete observance of human rights.

As stated in the report, promulgated in Strasbourg and published on November 24 in the official website of the Council of Europe, special concern is caused by activation of illegal armed formations, absence of efficient investigation of disappearances and murders, and murders of human rights defenders.

According to the report, in the last nine years, over 3000 persons disappeared in Chechnya. As reported by Mr Hammarberg, during his trip to Chechnya and Ingushetia he received many complaints from relatives of kidnapped persons. According to the CE's Commissioner, the Chechen authorities found about 60 burials with unidentified human remains.