Chechen National Rescue Committee accuses Russian authorities of forcing Chechen refugees out

The regional public movement Chechen National Rescue Committee addressed an appeal to the leadership of the United Nations, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Union, and the European Parliament on March 10.

"The aspiration of Moscow and Moscow-backed authorities on the territory of the Chechen Republic to do away with the main headache - the problem of existence of tent camps on the territory of the Republic of Ingushetia where Chechen refugees keep on living - is not surprising. The fact of their presence here disproves any statements that stabilization in the Chechen Republic has begun; it is the main argument confirming that the Russian-Chechen armed conflict is not over," reads the statement.

"Establishing, unfortunately, the inability of the international community to stop the war and thereby end the tragedy of the Chechen people, the Chechen National Rescue Committee calls upon the international community once again to stop at least high-handedness towards Chechen refugees. Some special body could be a guarantee when putting the idea into practice. It would watch the observance of rights of displaced persons from Chechnya in conformity with international conventions."