Memorandum to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the Human Rights Situation in Chechnya

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.