ALERT: STOP RUSSIAN ATROCITIES IN CHECHNYA

(WASHINGTON DC, 2/7/2002) - After September 11, the Russian military has committed atrocities in Chechnya with an air of impunity. The lack of accountability in the military has resulted in a free reign of terror against civilians remisncent of Serb atrocities in the Balkans.

In a recent report, Amnesty International said Chechen "women have suffered a variety of human rights abuses including rape, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial and summary execution" at the hands of Russian soldiers.

Absent any pressure from the U.S. and the international community, the Russian Federation will have no incentive to improve its treatment of non-combatants in Chechnya or to end the ruthless military campaign.

TAKE ACTION

Ask President George W. Bush and members of Congress to leverage our economic and political cooperation with the Russian Federation to:

1) End Russian atrocities in Chechnya.

2) Negotiate a withdrawal of Russian military troops from Chechnya.

3) Conduct independent inquiries into war crime allegations, and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses.

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Tel: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 224-3121