The U

The U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva passed a resolution presented by the European Union denouncing Russia for the war in Chechnya. This was the first time such a resolution was adopted against a country that is a permanent member of the Security Council. The resolution did not directly accuse Russia of large-scale violations of human rights, but expressed concern in connection with information about mass executions, torture, unlawful arrests, looting and violence in Chechnya. The resolution also urged U.N. special investigators on killings and torture to go on fact-finding missions to Chechnya. The motion was easily adopted at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights despite dissenting votes by Russia and a handful of allies including China, Cuba and India. The vote was 25 countries in favour and seven against, with 19 abstentions. Two delegations were absent - Liberia and Morocco.