Strasbourg, 30 June 2000 (RFE/RL) - As fighting continues to flare in Chechnya, the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly has issued new criticism of alleged Russian human rights violations in the breakaway republic. Yesterday, the parliamentary assembly deplored the refusal of the Council of Europe's member governments to sanction Russia over the nine-month-old Chechen war.
The assembly said Russia's efforts to address reported human rights abuses in Chechnya had not yet produced real results.
Parliamentarians renewed the threat to suspend Russia from the democracy and human rights monitoring organization unless the situation improves.
Vladimir Kalamanov, the Russian president's human rights envoy to Chechnya, said he regretted the assembly's decision. He maintained Russia is making progress to improve the human rights situation in Chechnya.
Parliamentarians renewed the threat to suspend Russia from the democracy and human rights monitoring organization unless the situation improves.
Vladimir Kalamanov, the Russian president's human rights envoy to Chechnya, said he regretted the assembly's decision. He maintained Russia is making progress to improve the human rights situation in Chechnya.