DATE=3/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260773
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A Russian army colonel has been charged with
raping and killing a young Chechen woman. The case
was filed days before the Council of Europe is due to
take up the issue of alleged human rights abuses in
Chechnya. V-O-A Moscow Correspondent Peter Heinlein
reports rights groups are demanding a wide-ranging
investigation of alleged Russian war crimes.
TEXT: Russian officials say army Colonel Yury Budanov
has been jailed. The tank commander faces charges of
raping and brutally murdering an 18-year-old Chechen
woman.
Russia's Interfax news agency reported (Thursday) this
is the first officially recorded case of rape by a
soldier in Chechnya. State-run television quoted Army
Chief of Staff Anatoly Kvaslnin as calling the Budanov
case "extraordinary" and, "disgraceful for the army."
The New York-based group, Human Rights Watch, says,
however, that it has documented hundreds of cases of
rape and other war crimes by Russian soldiers in
Chechnya, including summary executions.
Human Rights Watch Moscow representative Diederik
Lohman says the Budanov case is only the tip of a
massive iceberg. In a telephone interview, Mr. Lohman
says Colonel Budanov's arrest appears timed to defuse
international criticism. He points out Europe's
foremost human rights organization, the Council of
Europe, is preparing to debate the issue of alleged
Russian war crimes in Chechnya.
/// LOHMAN ACT ///
That's really only one of many cases we've
learned about. And we are worried that this is
some form of a new charm offensive by Russian
authorities to make sure that the Council of
Europe, which is in session next week, will not
take sanctions against Russia.
/// END ACT ///
The Council of Europe could suspend Russia's voting
rights because of its conduct of the war in Chechnya.
But Russian lawmaker Dmitry Rogozin, who is likely to
head Moscow's delegation at next week's session, says
Russia would not accept any attacks on its dignity.
Mr. Rogozin said all factions in Russia's Duma, or
lower house of parliament, will be ready to react to
any attempt to impose sanctions.
In a related development, United Nations human rights
Commissioner Mary Robinson flies to Russia Friday for
a long-awaited visit. She plans to spend time in
Chechnya and in refugee camps in neighboring
Ingushetia Saturday and Sunday to check on reports of
abuses.
Ms. Robinson earlier complained about restrictions
imposed by Moscow on access to the republic,
especially to what are known as "filtration camps"
where suspected Chechen rebel prisoners are held.
On the eve of her arrival, a Russian foreign ministry
official condemned Ms. Robinson's comments, calling
them unacceptable and anti-Russian.
Also Thursday, Russian officials were quoted as saying
a scheduled visit to Moscow next week by senior
European Union officials has been postponed.
The visit by E-U foreign policy chief Javier Solana
and external relations commissioner Chris Patten,
along with French and Portuguese diplomats, had been
scheduled for April 3rd and 4th, just as the Council of
Europe session was getting underway. The ITAR-Tass
news agency quotes foreign ministry sources as saying
the trip was put off until either April 6th or 10th,
after the Council of Europe debate is scheduled to
end. (Signed)
NEB/PFH/JWH/JP
30-Mar-2000 11:33 AM EDT (30-Mar-2000 1633 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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