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In the Eye of the Storm Chechnya and the Mounting Violence in the North

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In the Eye of the Storm Chechnya and the Mounting Violence in the North 111th CONGRESS Printed for the use of the 2d Session Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe IN THE EYE OF THE STORM: CHECHNYA AND THE MOUNTING VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS JULY 21, 2010 Briefing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Washington: 2012 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:45 Sep 27, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 3191 Sfmt 3191 U:\WORK\072110.TXT KATIE big-LOGO.EPS Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 234 Ford House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202–225–1901 [email protected] http://www.csce.gov Legislative Branch Commissioners HOUSE SENATE ALCEE L. HASTINGS, FLORIDA, BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, MARYLAND, Co-Chairman Chairman EDWARD J. MARKEY, MASSACHUSETTS CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, CONNECTICUT LOUISE MCINTOSH SLAUGHTER, SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, RHODE ISLAND NEW YORK TOM UDALL, NEW MEXICO MIKE MCINTYRE, NORTH CAROLINA JEANNE SHAHEEN, NEW HAMPSHIRE G.K. BUTTERFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA SAM BROWNBACK, KANSAS CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, NEW JERSEY SAXBY CHAMBLISS, GEORGIA ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, ALABAMA RICHARD BURR, NORTH CAROLINA JOSEPH R. PITTS, PENNSYLVANIA ROBERT F. WICKER, MISSISSIPPI DARRELL E. ISSA, CALIFORNIA Executive Branch Commissioners MICHAEL H. POSNER, DEPARTMENT OF STATE MICHAEL C. CAMUN˜ EZ, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ALEXANDER VERSHBOW, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (II) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:45 Sep 27, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 3193 Sfmt(2) 3193 U:\WORK\072110.TXT KATIE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Helsinki process, formally titled the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, traces its origin to the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in Finland on August 1, 1975, by the leaders of 33 European countries, the United States and Canada. As of January 1, 1995, the Helsinki process was renamed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The membership of the OSCE has expanded to 56 partici- pating States, reflecting the breakup of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The OSCE Secretariat is in Vienna, Austria, where weekly meetings of the partici- pating States’ permanent representatives are held. In addition, specialized seminars and meetings are convened in various locations. Periodic consultations are held among Senior Officials, Ministers and Heads of State or Government. Although the OSCE continues to engage in standard setting in the fields of military security, economic and environmental cooperation, and human rights and humanitarian concerns, the Organization is primarily focused on initiatives designed to prevent, manage and resolve conflict within and among the participating States. The Organization deploys numerous missions and field activities located in Southeastern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The website of the OSCE is: <www.osce.org>. ABOUT THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance by the participating States with their OSCE commitments, with a particular emphasis on human rights. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine mem- bers from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. The positions of Chair and Co-Chair rotate between the Senate and House every two years, when a new Congress convenes. A professional staff assists the Commissioners in their work. In fulfilling its mandate, the Commission gathers and disseminates relevant informa- tion to the U.S. Congress and the public by convening hearings, issuing reports that reflect the views of Members of the Commission and/or its staff, and providing details about the activities of the Helsinki process and developments in OSCE participating States. The Commission also contributes to the formulation and execution of U.S. policy regarding the OSCE, including through Member and staff participation on U.S. Delega- tions to OSCE meetings. Members of the Commission have regular contact with parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of non-governmental organiza- tions, and private individuals from participating States. The website of the Commission is: <www.csce.gov>. (III) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:45 Sep 27, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 3193 Sfmt(3) 3194 U:\WORK\072110.TXT KATIE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM: CHECHNYA AND THE MOUNTING VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS JULY 21, 2010 PARTICIPANTS Page Ronald McNamara, International Policy Director, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Elena Milashina, Investigative Reporter, Novaya Gazeta .......................................................... 3 Raisa Turlueva, victim whose son was abducted in Chechnya by security services ................. 6 Igor Kalyapin, Chair, Committee Against Torture ...................................................................... 8 (IV) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:45 Sep 27, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 3193 Sfmt(4) 3193 U:\WORK\072110.TXT KATIE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM: CHECHNYA AND THE MOUNTING VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS JULY 21, 2010 Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Washington, DC The briefing was held at 10 a.m. in room 340, Cannon House Office Building, Wash- ington, DC, Ronald McNamara, International Policy Director, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, moderating. Commissioner present: Hon. Mike McIntyre, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Panelists present: Ronald McNamara, International Policy Director, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; Elena Milashina, Investigative Reporter, Novaya Gazeta; Igor Kalyapin, Chair, Committee Against Torture; and Raisa Turlueva, victim whose son was abducted in Chechnya by security services. Mr. MCNAMARA. Good morning and welcome to this briefing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. My name is Ron McNamara and on behalf of our Chairman, Senator Cardin, and our Co-Chairman, Congressman Alcee Hastings, welcome to this briefing, which is part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to draw attention to human rights in the OSCE region in the Russian Federation and particularly in the North Caucasus region. This morning I actually looked and saw that our first hearing was on May 1st of 1995, exclusively focused on the situation in Chechnya. I would invite you to visit the Commission’s Web site, www.csce.gov, where you can review the materials related to this, today’s subject, ‘‘In the Eye of the Storm: Chechnya and the Mounting Violence in the North Caucasus Region.’’ I want to, at the outset, express appreciation for Freedom House and their assistance in facilitating the experts that will be sharing today with us regarding their observations with respect to the situation in that part of the Russian Federation. I would point out that yesterday our Co-Chairman, Congressman Hastings, introduced a resolution—copies of the text are available—H.Res. 1539, which, among other things, expresses solidarity with human rights defenders in the Russian Federation. The introduction timing is, of course, in close proximity to the 1-year anniversary of the murder of human rights defender Natalya Estemirova. And I thought in terms of sort of introducing the subject matter today, what I’ll do is read from Congressman Hastings’ (1) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:45 Sep 27, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 3194 Sfmt 3194 U:\WORK\072110.TXT KATIE brief statement of introduction related to the subjects of human rights defenders in the Russian Federation: ‘‘A year ago this month Natalya Estemirova, the leading human rights defender in Chechnya was abducted near her apartment in the capital city of Grozny by unidentified men, transported to the neighboring republic of Ingushetia and brutally killed. She led a courageous life of denouncing corruption, calling for a fair judicial system, and standing up for human rights. For that she was cut down. ‘‘While her killers may have ended her life, they will never silence the voice she brought to these issues. Ms. Estemirova’s work was well known to the Helsinki Commis- sion and colleagues here as we recall her visit in 2006 to the commission to discuss the situation in Chechnya. Like Estemirova, all too many of her fellow human rights defenders and journalists are targeted because they have the temerity to speak out about human rights abuses in the Russian Federation.’’ End quote. Yesterday, as I mentioned, Congressman Hastings introduced a resolution, a measure expressing solidarity with human rights defenders in the Russian Federation; urging the Russian authorities to take appropriate steps to end the harassment, persecution and attacks against activists; and calling for an end to the impunity for those responsible for such acts, including through the conducting of timely, transparent and thorough criminal investigations into the unresolved murders of human rights defenders, journalists and political opposition members and the prosecution of all of those responsible for these crimes. And I would emphasize all those responsible. The Helsinki Commission has been at the forefront of drawing attention to the human rights situation in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus region of Russia, having held numerous hearings and briefings on related concerns. Notwith-
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