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Chechnya rights group quits Moscow
Russia refuses the application of a human rights group probing abuses in Chechnya.
Last Modified: 27 Nov 2006 15:43 GMT


Tension continues over Chechnya

An organisation investigating human rights violations in Chechnya says it has been forced to suspend its Moscow operations after Russia rejected its application to re-register.

"We have thus had to suspend our activities in Russia," he added.
 
The organisation has to adhere to a new Russian law on NGOs which came into force in April 2006.
 
Under the law, representative offices of foreign NGOs are required to re-register with Russian authorities.

Wesselink said: "This will be a little more complicated, but we will not stop doing our work."

 

Investigations

 

The SRJI was founded six years ago. Its lawyers and researchers investigate incidents of detention, torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions in Chechnya.

 

It brings cases to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

 

In a case earlier this month, the court held Russia responsible for the disappearance of a father and son, and for the murder of a woman whose body was discovered in a mass grave in Chechnya.

 

Wesselink said the group plans to either appeal the decision or submit a new application.

 

The SRJI will continue to work out of its headquarters in the Netherlands.

Source:
Agencies
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