Worse than a War

The conflict in Chechnya, now (2005) in its sixth year, is a dire human rights crisis. The Russian government has gone to great lengths to persuade the international community that the situation is steadily “normalizing,” even as in the past year the conflict has shown no sign of abating. Russia contends that its operations in Chechnya are its contribution to the global campaign against terrorism. But the human rights violations Russian forces have committed there, reinforced by the climate of impunity the government has created, have not only brought untold suffering to hundreds of thousands of civilians but also undermined the goal of fighting terrorism. Russia’s federal forces, together with pro-Moscow Chechen forces, have committed numerous crimes against civilians, including extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detention and looting. With between 3,000 and 5,000 “disappeared” since 1999, Russia has the inglorious distinction of being a world leader in enforced disappearances. This briefing paper argues that the pattern of enforced disappearances in Chechnya has reached the level of a crime against humanity. It shows that, as part of Russia’s policy of “Chechenization” of the conflict, pro-Moscow Chechen forces have begun to play an increasingly active role in the conflict, gradually replacing federal troops as the main perpetrators of “disappearances” and other human rights violations.

Executive Summary

Background: The Current Situation in Chechnya

“Disappearances” in Chechnya as a Crime against Humanity
A Widespread Pattern
A Systematic Pattern: Perpetrators
A Systematic Pattern: Victims
          Evidence of torture and killings in custody
A Systematic Pattern: Impunity

Russia’s Efforts to Block the Draft Convention on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances

Recommendations

Appendix