21:52, 11 March 2014

HRC "Memorial": situation in Crimea reminds events of Second Chechen War

Russian military in Crimea. March 2014. Photo: Ukraine Border Service, http://dpsu.gov.ua/ru/about/photo_gallery/ photo_gallery_205.htm

The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has seen similarities with the armed conflict in Chechnya in the messages arriving from the Crimea about detentions and disappearances of journalists, activists, and Ukrainian militaries. The subordinate of the Lieutenant General Igor Turchenyuk, who, according to mass media, commands Russian soldiers in the Crimea, had committed crimes in Chechnya, human rights activists assert.

"In the last days, we received messages from the Crimea about detentions and disappearances – of journalists, civil society activists and Ukrainian servicemen. We hope that they will be found. However, given the experience of the armed conflict in Chechnya, the developments are causing serious concern," says the press release of the HRC "Memorial" entitled "Crimea and Chechnya: Warming Parallels" received today by the "Caucasian Knot".