The Human Rights Situation in the Chechen Republic

The human rights situation in the Chechen Republic is characterised by gross human rights abuses, violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes, committed by both sides to the conflict. So far, everyone involved – the Russian government, administration and judicial system, the different Chechen regimes – has failed dismally to provide adequate protection from human rights abuses. Even the influence and co-operation of international organisations and their member states have not managed to ensure that the victims of these abuses were granted redress, nationally or internationally. The result is a climate of impunity which encourages further human rights violations and which denies justice to thousands of victims.