The Boston-based Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), an independent human rights documentation organization, today released a report based on extensive evidence collected last month that provides further evidence of a continuing human rights crisis in Chechnya. Previously reported patterns of mass arrest, torture, and disappearance of civilians persist at an alarming level there, the group said. Those interviewed by PHR described the shelling of civilian dwellings and schools; extortion at checkpoints and looting during sweep operations; torture by Russia's forces at detention centers that includes mutilation and electric shock; and the arbitrary killing of non- combatants. Under international law, these actions are war crimes.

Fighters from the Chechen side have also committed confirmed human rights abuses. PHR demands that these forces cease their violations of international law and allow monitors to observe their behavior in the field.

On the basis of the information contained in its report, PHR calls on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which is currently considering whether to continue the suspension of Russia's voting rights at the parliamentary assembly, to take the following three steps:
· Condemn Russia for its failure to end ongoing and egregious abuses in the region.
· Continue to suspend Russia's membership in the Parliamentary Assembly.
· Recommend to the Committee of Ministers that Russia be suspended indefinitely from that body as well.

"The Council of Europe should not relent on its commitment to human rights in Chechnya. It must communicate to the Kremlin that its continuing abuses will not be tolerated by the Council," said Leonard Rubenstein, PHR's Executive Director and leader of the investigative team.

Physicians for Human Rights also strongly urges the Bush Administration and major European nations to demand that President Putin order his forces to respect human rights and hold them accountable if they fail to do so. He must also permit human rights monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) access to Chechnya without restriction at once.

The report issued today presents new information about events that took place in the second half of 2000. This follows PHR's first investigation in the region that took place from February through March 2000. Then, PHR conducted a random survey reporting that 197 killings by Russia's federal forces were witnessed by 1,143 respondents and their households between August 1999 and February 2000. Extrapolating that figure to the total population displaced from Chechnya into Ingushetia (186,100), PHR's survey findings suggest that Russia's federal forces killed an estimated 4,600 civilians during that period.

The fifty individuals interviewed in December gave detailed accounts of abuses by Russia's forces. Some who had been recently detained reported being thrown into open pits dug in the ground. One 25-year-old man interviewed by PHR was arrested by Russia's soldiers who had demanded a case of vodka. He was thrown into a pit so narrow that he could barely move his arms or knees. His only water while in the trench was gleaned from sucking on dirt from the side of the pit. Bribery was often the only way out of detention and relatives typically paid high sums.

Individuals arrested were regularly beaten and often deprived of food and water. Several respondents reported use of electric shock transmitted through alligator clips, one torture survivor said that the power source used to shock him was a manual dynamo. PHR documented cases of mutilation of detainees; one man showed the team the shape of a cross that the man claims was cut into his chest by members of Russia's federal forces.

PHR documented demands for bribes by Russia's forces. PHR spoke to an individual who gave a corroborated account of the disappearance of his two sons. The father was only able to confirm their deaths after a soldier sold him a hand-sketched map to their grave for 4,000 rubles (roughly the equivalent of $150 US). Despite positive identification of their remains by local investigators, no prosecution has been brought.
PHR also investigated shelling of civilian areas. PHR documented the shelling by Russia's forces on December 20 of the district containing the University of Grozny, an elementary school, and a teacher-training institute. Six people were confirmed to have been killed.

Physicians for Human Rights
Contact:
Nathaniel A. Raymond, Media and Public Affairs Coordinator
W) [617] 695-0041, ext. 220
H) [617] 623-4249
Email: nraymond@phrusa.org

Barbara Ayotte, Director of Communications
W) [617] 695-0041, ext. 210
Email: bayotte@phrusa.org