Chechnya (Hansard, 13 June 2003)

§ Mr. Peter Duncan
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights abuses by Russian forces in Chechnya. [118322]

§ Mr. MacShane
HMG recognises the genuine and serious security challenges in Chechnya, demonstrated by the recent wave of suicide bombings in the republic, but has consistently stressed that counter terrorist operations must respect human rights and the rule of law. We continue to regard allegations of human rights violations with serious concern, and have called for their thorough, transparent and effective investigation, and for those responsible to be prosecuted and punished.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Russia(a) regarding the rights of Chechens to take refuge in Ingushetia and (b) to ensure that war-affected civilians will not be forcibly repatriated. [118421]

§ Mr. MacShane
Both bilaterally and through the EU, we have repeatedly reminded the Russian Government of their obligations under the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, stressing that all movement by internally displaced persons (IDPs) must be strictly voluntary. 'We have also stated that the dismantling of shelters, or the suspension of food, water and energy supplies, in our view constituted a forced return. The policy of enforcing the return of IDPs from Ingushetia to Chechnya appears to have been reconsidered as a result of the representations made.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Russia regarding the delivery of efficient and sustainable humanitarian assistance to displaced Chechens in Ingushetia. [118422]

§ Mr. MacShane
The matter was discussed at official level during the last round of bilateral human rights talks, in which we pressed the Russian Government to provide full co-operation to humanitarian NGOs operating in the region. We have also made the same point through the EU.