Russian Federation: Out of control: Anti-Chechen sentiment in Moscow post-metro blast
The Russian authorities are responsible for the safety and security of all their citizens, including Chechens, Amnesty
International said today as it called on the authorities to take immediate and decisive steps to prevent the incitement
of racial hatred, in accordance with law.
The human rights organization is concerned about the current wave of hostility towards Chechens and other people from
the Caucasus region that has been reported in the Russian capital in the wake of the metro blast on 6 February 2004 that
killed up to 41 people, and injured more than 100.
According to information received by Amnesty International, minority ethnic groups from the Caucasus region have once
again become the target of discriminatory rhetoric, arbitrary document checks and searches, and racially-motivated
revenge attacks. Although no-one has as yet claimed responsibility for the metro blast, senior Russian government
officials, including President Vladimir Putin, were quick to blame Chechens. New tougher legislation - linked to the
unconstitutional residence registration system "propiska" - is currently being drafted in the capital, allegedly aimed
at combating "illegal migration".
Furthermore, it has been reported that an extremist organization has been calling upon people to attend a public
meeting, under the slogan "Cleanse Moscow of Chechen bandits!" Amnesty International is concerned that this may amount
to incitement of hatred on grounds of nationality and incitement to racially-motivated violence. Prominent Russian human
rights groups have also expressed their concern regarding the demonstration.
"In the current climate, we are concerned that the meeting could lead to incidents of racially-motivated violence. The
authorities must take all necessary steps to protect potential victims in line with their international obligations, and
uphold constitutional guarantees in relation to equality of citizens. Such inflammatory slogans appear to be aimed at
inciting racial hatred and should therefore be immediately removed from all public places in the capital", Amnesty
International said.
"Indiscriminate killing of civilians can never be justified", the organization said in its unreserved condemnation of
the metro bomb blast. "Those found responsible for such acts must be found and brought to justice in a court of law."
The organization calls on the Russian Federation to ensure that all measures taken are in accordance with international
human rights law and that the "fight against terrorism" is not used as a means to restrict the human rights of its
citizens, regardless of their ethnicity.
Background
Research conducted by Amnesty International and Russian human rights groups has shown that discrimination towards
Chechens is commonplace throughout the Russian Federation, with increased levels of harassment and racist attacks
reported following bomb attacks or incidents, such as the Moscow theatre siege in October 2002. Law enforcement agencies
have launched what can be described as targeted campaigns against Chechens which have resulted in arbitrary arrests and
planting of drugs and ammunition during personal searches of Chechens or their homes.
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