Lord Frank Judd: Chechnya remains in informational isolation

According to Lord Frank Judd, former PACE's Rapporteur for Chechnya and a member of the British Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG), believes that removal of the information blockade, improvement of social and economic life and organization of the negotiating process are prerequisites of solution of the problems of the Chechen Republic.

The report of the PHRG "Chechnya Fact-Finding Mission on February 15-19, 2010" was prepared on the outcomes of Lord Judd's visit of Chechnya  as the head of the delegation of British Parliament on February 15-18 this year.

The report by Frank Judd and Jo Swinson gives list of recommendations on addressing the problems accumulated in Chechnya. The first recommendation is addressed to Russian and Chechen authorities: "ensure a greater transparency and accounting in placement of federal funds in the Republic Chechnya."

Another recommendation deals with the need to struggle with "the atmosphere of impunity reigning in Chechnya" and contains a sub-point of providing protection to witnesses and members of their families.

The authors of the report have formulated a number of recommendations for the governments of Great Britain and EU member-states. One of them deals with the necessity of better coverage of the events in Chechnya by independent mass media.

Besides, attention is drawn to the need of reconsidering the policy of granting asylum and return of refugees with the aim to ensure protection of endangered Chechens.

When making comments on the course of investigating Estemirova's murder, Frank Judd expressed his concern of the fact that almost for a year after the murder of the well-know rights defender "the situation underwent no changes".