The Special Rapporteur has continued to follow the...

The Special Rapporteur has continued to follow the situation in Chechnya, where Russian government forces are reported to be committing grave human rights violations, including deliberate and targeted extrajudicial executions of unarmed civilians. In December 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal to the Government of the Russian Federation, expressing her deep concern over the safety of the speaker of the Chechen separatist "Republic of Incheria" Parliament. The Special Rapporteur also sent a joint urgent appeal concerning allegations received of massive human rights violations occurring in Chechnya. In this context the Special Rapporteur transmitted nine allegations of violation of the right to life of more than 68 people. Among them were at least 13 women and an unknown number of minors. The Special Rapporteur is alarmed by reports of extensive civilian casualties and fatalities as a result of widespread and indiscriminate bombing and shelling by government forces of civilian settlements and urban centres. (Sources: E/CN.4/2001/9)