19 November 2018, 13:33
Austrian OSCE expert tasked with inquiry into human rights violations in Chechnya
An Austrian lawyer, chosen from among OSCE experts has taken up the checking reports about human rights violations in Chechnya, said Igor Kochetkov, the executive programme director of the Russian LGBT Network.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 1, in was reported about the launch of the Moscow Mechanism in relation to Russia: 16 countries called for setting up an emergency mission for an international inquiry into human rights violations in Chechnya in connection with Russia's violations of its commitments to the OSCE.
The Moscow Mechanism was adopted in 1991 and is used in case of grave human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and crimes against humanity. It has not yet been applied in relation to Russia.
The OSCE investigation has already begun, it is being carried out by an Austrian lawyer chosen from the pool of OSCE experts, a professor in international law, whose name has not yet been disclosed, the "Kommersant" writes today referring to Mr Kochetkov, who has added that a report with recommendations can be expected from the lawyer in two weeks already; however, initially the document will have closed nature.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has treated the launch of the Moscow Mechanism as an "abuse of OSCE instruments" with the aim to "intensify the unleashed anti-Russian campaign" before the meeting of the OSCE Foreign Ministers to be held in Milano in early December, the "Kommersant" has added.
The Russian party has requested from the OSCE "substantive and documented information on specific cases of alleged violations," but failed to receive it; and, therefore, found no reason to provide any explanations.
Under these conditions, Russia is unlikely to send any of its experts for taking part in the Moscow Mechanism, the "Kommersant" has added.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 19, 2018 at 10:08 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
