Massive human rights violations have taken place within the context of the armed conflict in the self-proclaimed Chechen Republic. Since the conflict broke out in December 1994, 20,000 to 30,000 civilians have been killed, many of them as a result of indiscriminate attacks by Russian Federation federal forces on densely populated, residential areas. Men, women and children have been the victims of extrajudicial executions, hostage-taking and torture and ill-treatment in detention, particularly in so-called “filtration camps”. A reported 1350 persons have “disappeared”, and hundreds have been detained without trial. Allegations of rape have also been made against the Russian forces. This report gives recent examples of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights during the conflict.
