27 February 2007, 19:12
Lev Ponomaryov: human rights defenders would not approve Kadyrov's personality cult
While Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, EU Commissioner, is getting ready to attend the human rights conference in Grozny, capital of Chechnya, Russian human rights defenders continue to boycott Ramzan Kadyrov's invitation. They think that holding this sort of conference is equal to recognition of numerous violations of rights of people, which are taking place in Chechnya on a regular basis.
"We understand that a personality cult is now being built in Chechnya, and, naturally, one of this cult's aspects will be his human rights defence actions. But I don't think that there will be any people who will indeed trust these artificially created human rights organizations," Lev Ponomaryov, head of the movement "For Human Rights," has told in his interview to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."
He has noted that the only Kadyrov's statement in defence of human rights - the one in protection of Zara Murtazalieva - was notable for accusations of federal authorities.
Author: Alexandra Kondrasheva, CK correspondent
