21:23, 17 May 2004

Russia perpetrates slow genocide in Chechnya, former Estonian ambassador in Moscow says

"Russian President Vladimir Putin perpetrates purposeful genocide of the Chechen people in Chechnya using the struggle against terrorism as a cover," said Mart Helme, a former Estonian ambassador in Moscow. Being a wise politician, Mr Putin understands the genocide should not be committed in haste, it should be done gradually, the struggle against terrorism being used as a cover, Mr Helme wrote in the Eesti Pаevaleht newspaper.

"However it doesn't change the essence of things, therefore the world community must state with all due responsibility that the Chechen people will be eliminated within the next ten years if there will be no external interference," said the ex-ambassador. "Genocide means not only the killing and eviction of Chechens from their houses but the import of the problem to other regions of Russia, first of all to Dagestan and Ingushetia," Mart Helme added.

Mart Helme was Estonian ambassador in Moscow from 1995 to 2000. Now he is nominated to be a deputy of the European Parliament for the Estonian party People's Union.

Source: Rosbalt News Agency