Human Rights Policy in Chechnya

1
Human Rights Policy in Chechnya

• Sydney
• Diana
• Hudson
• Chris

2
Policy

• International Actors

3
International Policy

• What are Human Rights?
• Policy from a National and international
  organization is determined by its political
  apparatus and the power base of that institution.

4
The United Nations

• Power of the organization.
• Players involved.
• Policy towards the Chechen wars.

5
European Union, NATO, Amnesty International

• EU and NATOs power vs. Amnesty Internationals
• Actions taken
• Failure of human rights

6
A History of the Chechen Conflict

• 1991-2004

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Post-WWII Peace and Growth1957-1980s

• 1957 Repopulation
• Burgeoning Wealth
• Islamic extremism

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Chechnya Declares Independence1991
What is an A.S.S.R.? Why does that matter?
9
Dzhokhar Dudayev1991-1996 Chechnyas First
Separatist President

• Soviet Air Force
• Refugees and Persecution
• 1996 Assassinated

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First Chechen War1994-1996

• August 1994 Russian-backed Chechen opposition
• Yeltsin hoping for quick victory
• Russian air-raids and artillery
• Chechen rebels use civilian structures for cover

War torn Grozny
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Shamil BasayevSeparatist Warlord and Politician

• Afgan Al-Qadia (Wahabbism) connections plus
  Chechen mafia
• Claims responsibility for multiple acts of
  terrorism
• Led defense of Grozny in First Chechen War
• 1999 Chechnya-Dagestan alliance unsuccessful
• 2002 Resigns official posts. Uncontrollable
  by separatist government

Basayev with Separatist President Maskhadov
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Budyonnovsk Hospital Hostage CrisisJune 14-19
1995

• Chechen rebels led by Basayev
• Demanded end to Chechen War
• 1,500 hostages
• 105 civilians killed
• 25 police and soldiers killed
• Russian Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin agrees
  to cease-fire

13
Aslan Maskhadov1997-2005 Separatist President

• Senior Military figure during First Chechen War
• Peace talks with Russia
• Coordination with the terrorist Basayev?
• 2005 Assassinated

14
Second Chechen War1999-present

• 1999 Incursion to Dagestan and Moscow apartment
  bombings
• Influx of Islamic radicalism (Chechen Diaspora,
  Wahabites)
• Chechen terror campaign escalates

1 Sept. 2004 Beslan School Hostage Crisis
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Akhmad Kadyrov President of the Chechen Republic

• Led jihad against Russia during First Chechen War
• 1999 Denounced Basayevs terror campaign
• Rejected by Maskhadovs government
• 2003 Elected President with Russian backing

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Ramsan KadyrovDeputy Prime Minister of the
Chechen Republic

• Son of Akhmad Kadyrov
• Not directly responsible to the federal Russian
  military
• Credited with most of Russias human rights
  violations in Chechnya
• Hero of Russia award

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International Actors Involvement

• United States
• United Nations
• Council of Europe
• Other European Organizations

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United States

• 1999 Clinton accuses Russia of violating Geneva
  Convention
• Despite US warning, Russia intensifies its
  presence in Chechnya.

Russian President Yeltsin with US President Bush
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United States

• February 2005 Bush and Putin meet in Slovakia

20
United Nations

• 2001 UN condemns Russia for the conduct of its
  armed forces in Chechnya
• 2002 UN resumes aid to Chechnya

21
United Nations

• 2002 Putin invites UN Human Rights chief to
  visit Chechnya in the future
• 2004 UN declares plans to increase influence in
  Chechnya

22
Council of Europe

• 2003 PACE claims Russia failed to protect
  Chechen human rights
• 2004 Hague agreement settled at EU/Russia Summit
• 1 March 2005 1st round of consultations
• 8 September 2005 2nd round of consultations

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Other European Actors

• OSCE in 2001 an assistance group began working
  in Chechnya
• European Court in 2003, court decided to hear
  the 1st six cases filed by Chechens against
  Russian Army

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Future Prospects

• Trends
• Recent events
• Recommendations

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Continuing Trends

• Deteriorating conditions
• Extrajudicial Executions
• Disappearances
• Chechen troops replacing federal troops as the
  main perpetrators of human rights abuses
• Spreading violence to Ingushetia
• Violence endangering NGO representatives in
  Chechnya and Ingushetia
• Russian federal officials limiting NGO access

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Recent Events

• Parliamentary Elections
• Kadyrov elected President of Chechen branch of
  United Russia Party
• Pending Legislation

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Recommendations

• Russia needs to take accountability for Ramsan
  Kadyrov
• Restructure the UN Commission on Human Rights
• Chechnya needs to control separatist terrorists
  such as Basayev
• The EU and Russia should focus consultations on
  future prospects
• Make effective investigations and prosecutions
  against human rights violations