{"id":3986,"date":"2009-12-14T22:52:02","date_gmt":"2009-12-14T20:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/?p=3986"},"modified":"2009-12-14T22:52:29","modified_gmt":"2009-12-14T20:52:29","slug":"statement-of-russian-ngos-about-chechnya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/2009\/12\/statement-of-russian-ngos-about-chechnya\/","title":{"rendered":"Statement of Russian NGOs About Chechnya"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over 80 non-profit organizations and a few individual signed a letter, saying that \u201cthe presence of human rights workers in Chechnya is essential and they are calling on Memorial Human Rights Center to resume its work in Chechnya and express their willingness to support the work of independent human rights organizations in Chechnya.
\n
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The statement of Russian NGOs:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Chechnya. Our concern is intensified by the fact that the authorities – both regional and federal – not only do not investigate in a proper manner many flagrant violations of human rights, but often hinder independent investigation and disclosure of such facts.<\/p>\n

Independent human rights organizations – above all, the Memorial Human Rights Centre that has worked in the region since 1994 \u2013 have actively opposed the crimes committed by all parties to the armed conflict. Independent human rights defenders have conducted searches for kidnapped persons and have fought against the organized system of impunity for criminals, against torture and against the fabrication of criminal cases. By the beginning of this year, by these efforts it had seemed that some improvements in the human rights situation had been achieved.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the reduction in the number of kidnappings and murders, observed during 2007-2008, proved short-lived. In 2009, the number of such crimes again increased<\/a> significantly, and in many cases there are reasons to believe that the security forces of (pro-Moscow) Chechen authorities were themselves involved in the abductions and summary executions, responding to terror with terror.<\/p>\n

However, the (pro-Moscow) Chechen government, instead of investigating allegations of violations of human rights, criticizes human rights defenders, makes political accusations against them, and calls them “enemies of Russia<\/a>“. Any criticism of the regional leadership is interpreted as a hostile act and abetting terrorists.<\/p>\n

The abduction and murder on 15 July 2009 of Natalya Estemirova<\/a>, a staff member of Memorial, became possible only in this intolerable situation created by the (pro-Moscow) authorities of Chechnya. Less than one month later, on 10 August 2009, Zarema Sadulaeva head of the local humanitarian NGO \u201cLet\u2019s Save the Generation\u201d and her husband Alik Dzhabrailov were abducted and killed<\/a> in Grozny.<\/p>\n

The hostile attitude of the (pro-Moscow) authorities in Chechnya and the direct threat to the life of human rights defenders drastically complicated their work in Chechnya. Memorial was forced to suspend its work<\/a> in Chechnya.<\/p>\n

\"\"We realize the degree of danger involved in working in Chechnya \u2013 in the first place for those human rights defenders who are permanently in Chechnya. And yet, to leave Chechnya without any public scrutiny would not only mean to recognize that in Russia there is a region which in practice lies outside the realm of law. It would also mean to leave people whose rights have been violated without any assistance or defence. Many local NGOs speak about crimes committed in the past by federal security forces, but for understandable reasons remain silent about crimes committed \u201chere and now\u201d.<\/p>\n

In this regard, we believe the initiative of ten Russian human rights organizations, who on 23 November 2009 created a Public Commission on Chechnya<\/a> and have already begun providing concrete assistance to victims of human rights violations in Chechnya, to be very timely. The sharply negative reaction to this initiative witnessed in the remarks made by the (pro-Moscow) Ombudsman for Human Rights in Chechnya, seems to us extremely strange and incomprehensible.<\/p>\n

At the same time we continue to believe that the work of Memorial\u2019s offices in Chechnya is very important for the protection of human rights in Chechnya. The work of other Russian and international human rights organizations with experience in conflict zones is of course also important. And we hope that such organizations will find it possible to strengthen their presence in the region.<\/p>\n

Pressure from the authorities and arbitrary actions by the security forces must be met by the solidarity of civil society and the joint efforts of many human rights organizations.<\/p>\n

We call on the Russian authorities to ensure security, and the possibility to work effectively, for human rights defenders in Chechnya. We demand impartial and effective investigations into the killings of Natalya Estemirova, Zarema Sadulaeva and Alik Dzhabrailov, bringing to justice the organizers and perpetrators of these crimes. Only by putting an end to impunity can the inhabitants of Chechnya be protected from arbitrary rule, and can further killings of ordinary citizens, civil society activists and independent journalists be prevented.<\/p>\n

11.12.2009<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lyudmila Alekseeva, chair, Moscow Helsinki Group
\nValery Borshchev, chair, Social Partnership foundation
\nAleksander Verkhovsky, director, Sova Centre
\nYury Dzhibladze, president, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
\nValentina Melnikova, chair, Russian Human Rights Research Centre
\nLev Ponomarev, director, For Human Rights
\nAlexei Simonov, president, Glasnost Defence Foundation
\nLilia Shibanova, director, Voice
\nPavel Chikov, chair, AGORA
\nVeronika Katkova, deputy director, United Europe Institute of Public Affairs
\nDmitry Kraiukhin, editor, Centre Russian Human Rights Information Agency
\nVictor Kurenkov, chair, Tula Human Rights Centre
\nAnna Karetnikova, coordinator, Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
\nGalina Arapova, director, Media Rights Centre
\nVyacheslav Igrunov, director, International Institute of Humanitarian and Political Studies
\nMaxim Efimov, chair, Karelian branch of Youth Human Rights Group
\nDenis Shadrin, director, Kirov Centre for Civic Initiatives
\nMikhail Kriger, Coordinator, Anti-War Club
\nNadezhda Donovskaya, administrator, Pskov Veche
\nBasil Guslyannikov, chair, Mordovan Human Rights Center
\nSvyatoslav Zabelin, co-chair, International Social and Ecological Union
\nNina Ponomareva, chair, Volgograd Mothers\u2019Right
\nVladimir Schnitke, chair, St. Petersburg Public Supervisory Commission
\nVadim Karastelev, expert, Novorossiisk Committee for Human Rights
\nTatyana Mikhailova, chair, Orel Committee of Soldiers\u2019Mothers
\nMaria Safronova, Vorotynsk Migrant
\nLiubov Moseeva-Ele, chair, Kaluga Public Supervisory Commission
\nTatyana Kotlyar, chair, For Human Rights (Kaluga)
\nLiudmila Lvova, chair, Dilapidated Housing; member, Kaluga Public Supervisory Commission
\nViktor Kogan-Bright, chair, Regional Civic Initiative for the Right to Life and Civic Worth
\nVladimir Sliviak, co-chair,”Ecodefence!
\nNatalia Tagiltseva, director, Legal Protection (Sverdlovsk)
\nSergei Smirnov, Human Rights Network (HRO.org)
\nEvgeny Gaidash, Good Deed (Krasnodar)
\nAnastasia Maltseva, director, Information and Human Rights Centre (Ekaterinburg)
\nTatiana Tagieva, president, Ekaterinburg Open Society Centre for the Support of Civil Initiatives
\nElena Makei, chair, Carousel
\nGabdulla Isakaev, chair, For Fair Elections (Kurgan)
\nMark Kuperman, chair, Sakhalin Human Rights Centre
\nEvgeny Kislov, chair, Chechnya Human Rights Centre
\nAlexei Petrov, president, Alliance Club of Young Scientists (Irkutsk)
\nNina Efremova, president, Torch (Penza)
\nNatalia Karavaeva, director, International Standard (Bashkortostan)
\nMaria Kanevskaya, director, St Petersburg Human Rights Resource Centre
\nIvan Belkov, first secretary, Union of Youth of Russia
\nBoris Altshuler, director, Child\u2019s Right
\nValentina Starovoitova, chair, Orel Committee of Soldiers\u2019Mothers
\nElena Popova, press secretary, St. Petersburg Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers”
\nSofia Ivanova, director, Ryazan School of Human Rights
\nAlexander Bekhtold, director, For Human Rights (Ryazan)
\nAndrei Kalikh, program coordinator, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
\nAnastasia Nikitina, chair, System of Coordinates Youth Human Rights Group (Vladimir)
\nNatalia Evdokimova, responsible secretary, St Petersburg Human Rights Council
\nMarina Dubrovina, director, Generation (Novorossiisk)
\nVakha Chapanov, director, Maximum News Agency (Ingushetia)
\nIolanta Agababovyan, director, Human Rights Defender (Borisoglebsk)
\nAnatoly Tsygankov, president, Civil Society Center for Political and Social Research (Karelia)
\nYury Vdovin, Civic Control (St. Petersburg)
\nTatyana Dorutina, chair, League of Women Voters (St Petersburg)
\nOksana Chelysheva, Russian-Chechen Friendship Society
\nVadim Postnikov, director, Tyumen Human Rights Centre
\nAnastasia Denisova, president, ETHnICS – Krasnodar Regional Youth Group for Tolerance
\nNadia Egorova, chair, Council of Citizens (St. Petersburg)
\nElla Polyakova, chair, Soldiers’ mothers of Saint-Petersburg
\nNikolay Polyakov, head-lawyer, Bryansk regional human rights organization
\nSergey Val’kov, coordinator, Society of human rights (Ivanovo)
\nAleksander Grachev, director, Central-chernozem research Center (Kursk)
\nLidia Grafova, chair, Forum of resettlement organizations
\nIrina Paykacheva, president, Kolsk association of women-lawyers
\nOlga Burankova, director, lawyer, Informational and Human Rights Center ARKAIM (Chelyabinsk)
\nSvetlana Dubinina, head, Don Association of migrants
\nMagomed Mutsolgov, head, Human Rights organization MASHR (Ingushetia)
\nSergey Pavlov, club Radio-connection
\nNatalia Shikova, Diving-center
\nElena Vilenskaya, chair of the board, regional civil human rights organization House of peace and non-violence (Saint-Petersburg)
\nValentina Cherevatenko, head-coordinator, Union Women of Don
\nAlena Trofimova, co-chair, Center of human rights (Taganrog)
\nSergey Tabakov, chair, regional organization Human Rights Union of Chechnya of Karelia
\nAleksey Suslikov, deputy chair, regional civil organization Center of Consumer Protection
\nRita Abdurakhmanova, chair, Large Families of Russia (Murmansk)
\nDenis Gavrikov, non-commercial partnership Center of the Development of Civil Initiatives (Astrakhan)
\nIrina Demchenko, director, non-commercial partnership Institute of Social Perspectives (Stavropol)
\nAndrey Yurov, honorary president, International Youth Human Rights Movement
\nElena Dudukina, executive director, Center of Public Education, Arts and Cinema Youth<\/p>\n

The following people express their personal support:<\/strong>
\nArbi Sadulayev, brother of Zarema Sadulayeva
\nMikhail Afanasiev, journalist (Abakan, Chechnya of Khakasia)
\nNina Katerli, writer, member of Moscow Union of writers, member of international PEN club
\nVictoria Fomina, deputy head editor, Golden Ring (Yaroslavl)
\nVictor Sokirko, organizator of a weekly anti-war picket (Moscow)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over 80 non-profit organizations and a few individual signed a letter, saying that \u201cthe presence of human rights workers in Chechnya is essential and they are calling on Memorial Human Rights Center to resume its work in Chechnya and express their willingness to support the work of independent human rights organizations in Chechnya.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"views":4580,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3986"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3991,"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3986\/revisions\/3991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waynakh.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}