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U.S.
Report On Chechnya Angers Russia
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Russian
human rights violations in Chechnya criticized by U.S. |
MOSCOW,
March 8 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Russia reacted angrily Thursday to
U.S. criticism of human rights abuses in Chechnya. Warnings surfaced of a plot
to undermine Russian President Vladimir Putin's pro-Western policy in the wake
of spats over Georgia, NATO, and steel tariffs.
The
Russian foreign ministry branded a U.S. State Department report, attacking
Russian rights violations in the 29-month Chechen war, "outdated"
because "the events of September 11 had transformed relations between
Moscow and Washington," reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The
statement expressed "astonishment, to put it mildly" at the tone of
the U.S. State Department's annual rights report, which coincides with growing
anti-Americanism in Moscow due to perceived snubs to Russian prestige.
"We
have the impression that the report's authors have merely reproduced old cliches
as if nothing had happened in Russia or the United States," the statement
continued.
It
was "as if the events of September 11 had not taken place and as if the
international community was not united in the fight against terrorism," the
foreign ministry added.
Russia
has repeatedly alleged links between independence claiming activists in Chechnya
and Al-Qaeda network led by Osama bin Laden, in an effort to win support for its
controversial war in the North Caucasus.
Putin's
unprecedented support for the U.S.-led anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan has
drawn criticism from Russian hard-liners opposed to the presence of American
troops on former Soviet territory in Central Asia.
The
risks underlying Putin's pro-Western alignment were highlighted this week by
Russian anger at a planned U.S. military deployment in Georgia, a disagreement
with NATO over a new security partnership and the row over U.S. steel tariffs.
The
U.S. rights report on Chechnya listed disappearances, extra-judicial killings,
torture and detentions, among other violations committed by Russian federal
troops against Chechens.
The
Russian foreign ministry described the report's "passage on Chechnya as
especially odious". It warned Thursday, March 7, of a conspiracy to block
U.S.-Russian rapprochement.
History:
During
the Soviet era, Stalin, in order to maintain power and to prevent overthrow
"by external powers manipulating internal ethnic groups", was brutal
in his control of the Chechen people.
The
Chechens therefore actually said they would welcome Germany if they recognized
an independent Chechnya. This led to a mass deportation and relocation of
Chechen people (and others) to Kazakhstan and Siberia. Around 800,000 people are
said to have been relocated this way. Perhaps 100,000 or more of these people
died due to the extreme conditions.
Chechnya,
later, declared independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In
a move that looked as though Russia wished to show the world it could also do
what the United States did to Iraq, it attacked Chechnya. The 1994-96 war left
80,000 casualties. The Russian assault devastated Grozny and other parts of
Chechnya. However, the Chechens defeated Russia revealing how poor Russian
military capabilities were.
Earlier
in 1999, the Islamic uprising in the neighboring Dagestan region of Russia
resulted in accusations by Moscow that Chechen government forces supported a
Dagestan rebellion. While this was denied, Chechen fighters (that are not
controlled by the central government) did support the Islamic uprising in
Dagestan. This incursion led to a conflict with Russian forces that defeated the
Chechens.
Following
the Chechen defeat in Dagestan, Moscow suffered bomb blasts believed to be by
various independence activists (although never proven). This has also led to a
rise in Russia of racist sentiments against people mainly from the Caucasus
regions.
Russia
is now engaged in a full-scale war with Chechnya. There have been many reports
of bombing raids by Russian forces and over 200,000 people are said to have fled
from Chechnya. Grozny and other parts of Chechnya are being pounded and
destroyed.
Once
more, the civilian population is caught in the middle. Civilian casualties have
been high and there has been international outcry at the brutal Russian
crackdown and indiscriminate bombing and targeting of civilians.
Human
Rights groups are concerned by Russian forces’ rampage, since issuing an
ultimatum for citizens in Grozny to evacuate. The Russian troops have been
looting and burning homes and buildings, even executing those who resist. The
rest of the G8 and the European Union have even threatened to isolate Moscow if
they continue their campaign.
On
April 20, 2000, Chechen President, Ashlan Mashkadov, made a ceasefire offer.
However, Russian demands have been stern, which triggered more suicide attacks
and increased warfare by the Chechen combatants, indicating that the conflict is
far from over.
As
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported in April 2001, "the U.N. Commission on
Human Rights adopted a resolution on Chechnya that condemned serious human
rights violations by Russian forces, and raised concern about forced
disappearances, torture, and summary executions.
“Sponsored
by the E.U., and with strong U.S. backing, the resolution called for U.N.
special reporters to investigate these abuses in the war-torn republic and for
credible criminal investigations by domestic agencies into all human rights and
humanitarian law violations.
Russia
rejected a similar resolution adopted by the commission, and refused to comply
with its requirements. It has vowed to do the same this year."
In
May 2001, HRW also reported that Russian authorities covered evidence of extra-judicial executions.
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