HR/00/17
The United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights, the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
today expressed their deep concern at continuing reports of violations
of human rights and humanitarian law by federal forces in Chechnya, Russian
Federation.
They emphasised the importance of a credible response to these allegations and expressed their readiness to support the national authorities, in particular the presidential representative for human rights in Chechnya, in investigating human rights violations. They reiterated their call on the authorities of the Russian Federation to allow international monitoring of the human rights situation. They also urged that full access and appropriate conditions be provided to enable international humanitarian assistance to be delivered and that access to detainees and internally displaced persons be granted.