Homeland Security

Three Chechen Groups Designated as Terrorists

(Boucher also reiterates need for political solution in Chechnya) (780)
Secretary of State Colin Powell recently designated three Chechen
organizations -- the Islamic International Brigade, the Special
Purpose Islamic Regiment, and the Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and
Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs -- as terrorist groups, State
Department Spokesman Richard Boucher announced February 28.
"In making this designation, the United States calls on all Chechen
leaders to renounce terrorist acts and cut any ties they may have to
these terrorist groups and all who are affiliated with them," he said.
Boucher added that "we do not consider all Chechen fighters to be
terrorists," and he also reiterated the U.S. position that the Chechen
conflict "cannot be resolved militarily and requires a political
solution."
Boucher also restated U.S. support "for the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Georgia."
Following is Boucher's statement:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 28, 2003
TERRORIST DESIGNATION UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 13224 ISLAMIC
INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE, SPECIAL PURPOSE ISLAMIC REGIMENT, AND
RIYADUS-SALIKHIN RECONNAISSANCE AND SABOTAGE BATTALION OF CHECHEN
MARTYRS
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell on February 14 designated three
Chechen organizations -- the Islamic International Brigade, the
Special Purpose Islamic Regiment, and the Riyadus-Salikhin
Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs -- as
terrorist groups under the Executive Order on terrorist financing.
The Islamic International Brigade, the Special Purpose Islamic
Regiment, and the Riyadus-Salikhin Battalion are violent groups
responsible for committing numerous acts of terrorism in Russia,
including hostage-taking and assassination, that have threatened the
safety of U.S. citizens and U.S. national security or foreign policy
interests. All three groups were directly involved in the seizure of
over 800 hostages at Moscow's Dubrovka Theater last October, an
incident that resulted in the deaths of 129 hostages, including one
U.S. citizen.
In making this designation, the United States calls on all Chechen
leaders to renounce terrorist acts and cut any ties they may have to
these terrorist groups and all who are affiliated with them. And we
recognize that there are terrorist elements among those fighting
Russian forces in Chechnya. At the same time, we do not consider all
Chechen fighters to be terrorists.
It remains our position that the broader conflict in Chechnya cannot
be resolved militarily and requires a political solution. We have made
this point repeatedly to the Russians. We urge Russia to pursue a
political settlement and to establish meaningful accountability for
human rights violations by its armed forces in Chechnya. We also
condemn acts of terrorism and other abuses committed by armed Chechen
groups.
The United States also underscores its strong support for the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, a partner in the war
on terrorism. We urge Russia to respect Georgia's sovereignty and
territorial integrity while continuing to cooperate with Georgia and
the United States on the issue of Chechen fighters and international
terrorists in the Pankisi Gorge.
Executive Order 13224 blocks assets of these groups that are in the
United States or held by U.S. persons, wherever located. Among other
things, it further has the effect of prohibiting any U.S. persons from
making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods, or services for
the benefit of these groups. The Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) today added the names of these three groups to its website as
Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). Section 1(b) of the
Order, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of State to designate
foreign entities and individuals that he determines -- in consultation
with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security -- to have committed, or to pose a
significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the
security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy,
or economy of the United States.
Because these three groups are linked to Al-Qaida, the United States,
Russia, the United Kingdom, China and Spain have requested today that
the United Nations 1267 Sanctions Committee include the groups on its
consolidated list pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions 1267,
1390 and 1455. France has also indicated it will join the designation.
This would be the first time that all five permanent members of the
Security Council have joined in submitting names to the 1267
Committee. All UN Member States are obligated to impose arms and
travel sanctions on, and to freeze without delay assets of, any
individual or entity on the consolidated list, and to prohibit their
nationals or persons in their territories from making available any
funds or other resources to such entities.
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)