UN bars Chechnya to aid workers February 12, 2004 10:49 The United Nations has told the Kremlin not to expect any increase in its or other aid agency staff in Chechnya until a kidnapped Dutch aid worker has been released.
Death penalty replaced with "slow death" February 11, 2004 23:27 During the six years since the abolition of capital punishment, at least 30 inmates serving life sentences and four prisoners sentenced to death who were subsequently amnestied, died, i.e. nearly every fourth.
Abkhazian Defense Ministry denies information of Georgian media about oppression of Georgians in Abkhazian Army February 11, 2004 21:17 "People of different nationalities serve in the Abkhazian Armed Forces, and Georgians do to. But no one of them have been oppressed and even more so subjected to torture because of their nationality," reads a press release by the Ministry of Defense.
Illegally detained residents of Avtury village set free February 11, 2004 17:32 In no more than an hour after the detention, the military tried to deny the fact itself that the young men were taken into custody. However there were witnesses who saw the detainees being conveyed to the territory of the former farm.
Book "Human Rights Monitoring" presented in Baku February 11, 2004 17:16 The book "Human Rights Monitoring" was presented by Saida Godjamanly, director of the Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, at the office of the Bureau on February 9.
Abkhazian authorities denounce detention of Ukrainian ship by Georgian frontier guards February 11, 2004 16:02 Abkhazian State Security Service Chairman Givi Agrba holds that the Georgian party committed a gross violation of the Moscow Ceasefire Agreement of 14 May 1994.
Refugees in Satsita camp receive humanitarian aid for two months February 11, 2004 15:42 Representatives of the Danish Refugee Council explained to the displaced persons that they took such a step because they feared they would be likely denied access to refugee camps in the near future.
"Purge" in Agishbatoy village February 11, 2004 15:33 Several locals were reportedly detained in the course of the "purge".
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.