STRASBOURG, 15.12.99 - COUNCIL OF
EUROPE Secretary General Walter SCHWIMMER has written to Russian Foreign
Minister Igor IVANOV asking Moscow to give explanations about the human
rights situation in Chechnya.
He was acting under powers given him
under Article 52 of the European Convention on Human Rights. His letter
asks for: " explanations concerning the manner in which the Convention
is currently being implemented in Chechnya, and the risks of violation
which may result".
This is the first time a Secretary General of the Council of Europe has exercised this right with regard to an individual country. "Extraordinary situations need extraordinary action", he said. He has asked for an answer from Moscow "by 10 January 2000 at the latest".
Mr Schwimmer echoed statements made by the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Alvaro Gil-Robles, who visited Chechnya and neighbouring regions earlier this month, and underlined his extreme concern about the situation: "The war in itself constitutes a human rights violation."
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