MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

11.1.2006

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Michał Tomasz Kamiński and Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis
on behalf of the UEN Group
on Chechnya after the elections and civil society in Russia

B6‑0028/2006

European Parliament resolution on Chechnya after the elections and civil society in Russia

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 December 1997,

–  having regard to the objective of the EU and Russia to implement the four 'common spaces' agreed at the EU-Russia Summit in May 2005,

–  having regard to its resolution of 26 May 2005 on EU-Russia relations,

–  having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2005 on human rights in Russia,

–  having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and its five Protocols,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas on 27 November 2005 parliamentary elections took place in Chechnya,

B.  whereas the United Russia party headed by the pro-Russian leader Kadyrov was declared the winner,

C.  whereas human rights organisations, including the International Federation for Human Rights, the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society and Russia's Memorial, accused the Russian authorities and the Chechen Government, which is controlled by the Kremlin, of serious violations of democratic principles and criticised the declaration by the EU Presidency hailing the elections as fulfilling democratic standards,

D.  whereas the Chechen conflict, which broke out in 1994, is continuing and no prospects of reconciliation are in sight,

E.  whereas both separatist forces and the federal army have committed many injustices and crimes during the two Chechen wars,

F.  whereas the civil population of Chechnya is suffering and whereas killings, torture and ill-treatment are widespread and utilised both by the Russian federal army and Chechen security forces and by separatist forces,

G.  whereas many of the abuses and human rights violations in Chechnya remain largely unpunished, creating a climate of impunity which is spreading beyond the Chechen and Ingush republics into other regions of the Northern Caucasus, including North Ossetia and more recently Kabardino-Balkaria, threatening the rule of law throughout the Russian Federation,

H.  whereas since 1994 at least 50 000 civilians are estimated to have perished in Chechnya according to Human Rights Watch,

I.  whereas many Chechen people are scattered in neighbouring countries, in many cases living in atrocious conditions in tents or in makeshift refugee facilities,

J.  whereas on 23 and 27 December 2005 the slightly revised bill restricting the activities of non-governmental organisations in Russia was approved by both chambers of the State Duma and it now only needs the signature of President Putin to become law,

1.  Believes that Mr Kadyrov's success in the recent presidential election in Chechnya is the result of an unfair pre-election phase and that genuinely democratic and fair elections are possible only if separatist forces have a chance to be involved in the political process on equal terms and if an opportunity is created for refugees to participate in the poll;

2.  Calls for an increase in the capacity of the Council and the Commission to analyse developments in Chechnya and the repercussions of the conflict on Russian society as a whole; emphasises that the EU should actively pursue a change in Russia's policy in relation to Chechnya, with a greater emphasis on non-military solutions;

3.  Condemns the crimes committed by both parties against civilians in violation of basic human rights; considers that negotiation and political dialogue alone would allow the parties to resolve the conflict and that armed force should be used in strict compliance with the code of conduct of the OSCE and the Geneva Convention;

4.  Calls on the Russian State Duma to set up a committee of inquiry to investigate the failure of law enforcement agencies in the Chechen Republic to hold responsible the perpetrators of serious human rights violations, as documented by many human rights groups; recalls that so far only few cases have come to trial, while most were suspended, transferred or dismissed;

5.  Calls in this context on the Russian authorities to reopen the investigations into and criminal cases against General Vladimir Shamanov and General Yakov Nebitko, who should both be prosecuted and suspended from their duties during the investigation, since they were held responsible by the Strasbourg Court for the indiscriminate bombing of Chechen civilians in Katyr-Jurt in February 2000;

6.  Calls on the Chechen separatist forces to renounce violence and to condemn any terrorist act against the civil population;

7.  Calls on the Russian authorities to allow UN rapporteurs to visit the republic in accordance with their requests and to permit international staff of UN agencies, humanitarian aid and human rights organisations, the media and journalists to work in Chechnya;

8.  Urges the Council and the Commission to increase their contribution to humanitarian aid, especially medical supplies and reconstruction aid and specifically all the aid projects needed to assist the return of refugees;

9.  Is concerned about reports of administrative and judicial harassment of some NGOs active in Chechnya, which seems to be part of a more general process threatening freedom of expression and of association in the Russian Federation, and urges the Russian authorities to put an end to this harassment;

10.  Expresses its concern about the draft law on the legal status of non-governmental organisations and stresses that, before signing it, the President of the Russian Federation should ensure that it is fully in line with the recommendations made by the Council of Europe and clearly designed to prevent harassment of NGO activists in Russia;

11.  Urges the Russian authorities to remove obstacles to NGOs in order to promote human rights, democracy, independent media, civil society development, religious freedom, the rule of law and transparency;

12.  Calls on the Commission to extend EU support to European law centres at Russian universities, academic institutes and NGOs to ensure that instruments and programmes for cooperation and exchanges between NGOs and groups within civil society in Russia are introduced swiftly and effectively in order to promote European values and the development of an open society;

13.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Parliaments and Governments of the Member States, the President, State Duma and Government of the Russian Federation and the Secretaries General of the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE.