Human Rights Watch

Today, as the Commission opens its 58th session, Chechnya remains the only place in Europe where civilians are killed on a daily basis in armed conflict. Russian and Chechen rebel forces subject civilians to a vicious cycle of abuse. Since the 57th UNCHR session, abuses by Russian troops-particularly "disappearances" and extrajudicial executions-did not relent. In fact, Human Rights Watch found that at least one "disappearance" occurred each week between September and December 2001.