Ombudsman of Karachaevo-Cherkessia takes oath February 11, 2004 15:22 Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia Vladimir Titarenko took the oath at a session of the republican National Assembly.
European Union prepares draft on EU's policy towards Russia February 11, 2004 15:08 The press release on the occasion reads that the draft suggests increasing pressure on Russia in such issues as human rights, a situation in Chechnya, media freedom, and cooperation in the cause of preservation of the environment.
US journalist disappears in North Osetia February 11, 2004 14:44 A journalist's disappearance has been reported by the consul of the US Embassy. He turned to the Moscow police asking for help overnight.
Russian President to be informed about problems of residents of Chechnya displaced to Ingushetia February 11, 2004 14:26 Russian President's Commission on Human Rights is preparing materials on the problems of people displaced from the Chechen Republic to Ingushetia and will hand these documents over to the President.
Rights of Sochi National Park defended in court February 11, 2004 13:53 Greenpeace Russia won in the Russian Supreme Court the suit to abolish the part of the resolution of the Russian Government by which it withdrew 33,222 hectares of land from the Sochi National Park (including 11,000 hectares of land of the reserved zone, where any economic activity is prohibited) and gave it to the Sochi All-Republican National Natural Reserve.
Russian radicals see connection between terrorist act in metro and initiative of European Parliament members to establish UN administration in Chechnya February 11, 2004 13:01 We call your attention to the statement by Nikolay Khramov, secretary of the Russian Radicals movement, member of the Transnational Radical Party General Council, in connection with the 6 February terrorist act in the Moscow metro.
Union of Chechen Journalists indignant at "Freedom of Speech" program shown by NTV TV Channel February 10, 2004 22:28 "The Union of Chechen Journalists expresses a stern protest against the informational war started by some Russian politicians through the central media against the Chechen people," reads the statement.
"Collective Action" Initiative Group alarmed at aggravating situation around terrorist act in Moscow February 10, 2004 19:01 "We consider the hasty conclusions and accusations, which are exacerbating people's grief and suffering and provoking ethnic hatred and aggression in our society, to be blasphemy," reads the statement.
Rebel attacks leave 2 army servicemen dead in Chechnya February 10, 2004 17:08 Gunmen attacked a group of Russian army servicemen in Grozny and blew up an armored vehicle in Achkhoy-Martan on February 9, leaving two servicemen killed and two injured.
Armenia waits for Ilkham Aliyev to give variants of Karabakh conflict resolution February 10, 2004 16:50 The Karabakh problem is territorial only in the sense that Azerbaijan has no legal or historic claims on Nagorny Karabakh, said Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian.
Armenian Scientific and Information Cultural Center wins regional competition in Kaliningrad Region February 10, 2004 16:30 The organization is the winner in the Commonwealth nomination, which supposes the assessment of the nominees' activity in the field of preservation and development of national traditions.
Chechen refuges block railway in Austria February 10, 2004 15:49 On 8 February, refugees from Chechnya blocked a railway in the Austrian town of Gmuend for several hours as a sign of protest against possible deportation.
Suicide bombing is main theory behind Moscow metro blast February 10, 2004 15:21 Federal Security Service (FSB) deputy director Vyacheslav Ushakov suggested studying the experience of the United States. The United States drafted a national patriotic platform after the notorious terrorist act of September 11 and afterwards enacted it into law.
Political prisoners go on hunger strike in Bailovskaya prison February 10, 2004 14:40 The main demands of the oppositionists are: to speed up the investigation into the disturbances of 15-16 October and the handover of criminal cases to courts, and to hold the court hearings in large rooms, in the presence of the local and foreign mass media; and to oblige the authorities to fulfill all the recommendations by the Council of Europe and OSCE concerning human rights following the election of the new Azerbaijan president.
Residents of Satsita camp stage meeting to protest against closure of refugee camps February 10, 2004 14:12 Participants opposed the closure of refugee camps planned for March 1. Over 200 refugees took part in the action. They still name lack of security guarantees in Chechnya as the main reason for them not to return.
Statement by Human Rights Center "Memorial" Council Chairman, Society "Memorial" Board member Oleg Orlov "On the Initiative of European Parliament members" February 09, 2004 23:17 The statement reads, in particular, "The European parliamentarians' initiative should be considered solely as a vivid demonstration of their distrust of Moscow's policy in Chechnya."
Statement by Human Rights Center "Memorial" on terrorist act in Moscow metro February 09, 2004 17:12 The statement reads, in particular, "Only a resolute change in the policy of the Russian leadership can bring peace and serenity to the Russian people."
Georgian policemen kill officer of special operations forces in South Osetia February 09, 2004 15:46 A company commander, Mamitov Viktor, 1981, was killed as a result of the fire. The incident is under investigation now.
Book about traditions of resolving conflicts in Caucasus February 09, 2004 15:41 The authors believe the readers are given a chance to feel as participants in the honest and thorough discussion on the situation in the Caucasian region.
4th anniversary of bloody "purge" in Noviye Aldy February 09, 2004 14:35 46 civilians, including women and old people, were shot dead in the course of the police operation in the village of Noviye Aldy on 4 February 2000. 10 more people, including a one-year-old child, were shot down in residential areas of Grozny adjacent to the village.