11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Overview on human rights situation in 2007 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22587]

"There were numerous reports of government and societal human rights problems and abuses during the year. Security forces reportedly engaged in killings, torture, abuse, violence, and other brutal or humiliating treatment, often with impunity. Hazing in the armed forces resulted in severe injuries and deaths. Prison conditions were harsh and frequently life threatening; law enforcement was often corrupt; and the executive branch allegedly exerted influence over judicial decisions in some high‑profile cases. The government's human rights record remained poor in the North Caucasus, where the government in Chechnya forcibly reined in the Islamist insurgency that replaced the separatist insurgency in Chechnya as the main source of conflict. Government security forces were allegedly involved in unlawful killings, politically motivated abductions, and disappearances in Chechnya, Ingushetiya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus. Disappearances and kidnappings in Chechnya declined, as Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov established authoritarian and repressive control over the republic, and federal forces withdrew. Federal and local security forces continued to act with impunity, especially in targeting families of suspected insurgents, and there were allegations that Kadyrov's private militia engaged in kidnapping and torture. In the neighboring republics of Ingushetiya and Dagestan, there was an increase in violence and abuses committed by security forces.

Government pressure continued to weaken freedom of expression and media independence, particularly of the major television networks. Unresolved killings of journalists remained a problem. The government restricted media freedom through direct ownership of media outlets, influencing the owners of major outlets, and harassing and intimidating journalists into practicing self-censorship. Local governments tried to limit freedom of assembly, and police sometimes used violence to prevent groups from engaging in peaceful protest. The government used the law on extremism to limit freedom of expression and association. Government restrictions on religious groups were a problem in some regions. There were incidents of discrimination, harassment, and violence against religious and ethnic minorities. There were some incidents of anti-Semitism. (...)"

Document(s): Open document

05.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Article on human rights situation in the Russian Federation ("Dunkle Aussichten: Zur Menschenrechtslage in Russland") [ID 20715]

Document(s): Open document

27.03.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Annual report on human rights violations 2007 (events 2006) ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2007 (Events of 2006)") [ID 19684]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Overview on human rights situation 2006 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19685]

"The most notable human rights developments during the year were the contract-style killings of proreform Central Bank Deputy Chairman Andrei Kozlov and journalist Anna Politkovskaya, known for uncovering human rights abuses in Chechnya. Continuing centralization of power in the executive branch, a compliant State Duma, political pressure on the judiciary, intolerance of ethnic minorities, corruption and selectivity in enforcement of the law, continuing media restrictions and self‑censorship, and harassment of some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) resulted in an erosion of the accountability of government leaders to the population. Security forces were involved in additional significant human rights problems, including alleged government involvement in politically motivated abductions, disappearances, and unlawful killings in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus; hazing in the armed forces that resulted in severe injuries and deaths; torture, violence, and other brutal or humiliating treatment by security forces; harsh and frequently life‑threatening prison conditions; corruption in law enforcement; and arbitrary arrest and detention. 

 The executive branch allegedly exerted influence over judicial decisions in certain high‑profile cases. Government pressure continued to weaken freedom of expression and media independence, particularly of major national networks. Media freedom declined due to restrictions as well as harassment, intimidation, and killing of journalists. Local authorities continued to limit freedom of assembly and restrict religious groups in some regions. There were also reports of societal discrimination, harassment, and violence against members of some religious minorities and incidents of anti-Semitism. Authorities restricted freedom of movement and exhibited negative attitudes toward, and sometimes harassed, NGOs involved in human rights monitoring. Also notable was the passage and entry into force of a new law on NGOs, which has already hadsome adverse effects on their operations.There waswidespread governmental and societal discrimination as well as racially motivated attacks against ethnic minorities and dark-skinned immigrants, including the outbreak of violence against Chechens in the northwest and the initiation of a government campaign to selectively harass and deport ethnic Georgians. Xenophobic, racial and ethnic attacks, and hate crimes were on the rise.Violence against women and children, trafficking in persons, and instances of forced labor were also reported. (...)"

Document(s): Open document

01.05.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Human Rights in the Russian Federation (Events of 2005) ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2006 (Events of 2005)") [ID 15628]

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Overview on Human Rights Situation in 2005 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11179]

"The Russian Federation has a weak multiparty political system with a strong presidency, a government headed by a prime minister, and a bicameral legislature (Federal Assembly) consisting of a lower house (State Duma) and an upper house (Federation Council). The pro-presidential United Russia party controlled more than two‑thirds of the State Duma. The country had an estimated population of 143 million.

President Vladimir Putin was re-elected in March 2004 in an election process the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) determined did not adequately reflect principles necessary for a healthy democratic election, particularly in equal access to the media by all candidates and secrecy of the ballot. However, the voting itself was relatively free of manipulation, and the outcome was generally understood to have represented the will of the people. The government's human rights record in the continuing internal conflict in and around Chechnya remained poor. Both federal forces and their Chechen government allies generally acted with legal impunity. The civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces. Pro-Moscow Chechen paramilitaries at times appeared to act independently of the Russian command structure, and there were no indications that the federal authorities made any effort to rein in their extensive human rights abuses.

The most notable human rights development during the year was continued centralization of power in the executive branch, which was strengthened by changes in the parliamentary election laws and a move away from election of regional governors to their nomination by the president for confirmation by regional legislatures. This trend, taken together with continuing media restrictions and self-censorship, a compliant State Duma, continuing corruption and selectivity in enforcement of the law, political pressure on the judiciary, and harassment of some non‑governmental organizations (NGOs) resulted in an erosion of the accountability of government leaders to the people. There were reports of the following additional significant human rights problems:

* alleged government involvement in politically motivated abductions, disappearances, and unlawful killing in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus
* hazing in the armed forces, resulting in several deaths
* harassment, and in some cases, abduction, of individuals who appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), reportedly to convince them to drop their cases
* torture, violence, and other brutal or humiliating treatment
* harsh and frequently life-threatening prison conditions
* corruption in law enforcement
* arbitrary arrest and detention
* allegedexecutive branch influence over judicial decisions in certain high‑profile cases
* government pressure that continued to weaken freedom of expression and media independence, particularly of major national networks
* continued limitations, primarily by local authorities, on freedom of assembly and restrictions on some religious groups in some regions
* societal discrimination, harassment, and violence against members of some religious minorities
* restrictions on freedom of movement and migration
* negative official attitudes toward, and sometimes harassment of, certain NGOs involved in human rights monitoring
* violence against women and children
* trafficking in persons
* widespread governmental and societal discrimination as well as racially motivated attacks against ethnic minorities and persons from the Caucasus, Central Asia, Asia, and Africa
* instances of forced labor

There were also positive developments with regard to human rights. The judiciary demonstrated greater independence in a number of cases. Reforms initiated in previous years continued to produce improvements in the criminal justice system. The authorities sought to combat instances of racial and ethnic mistreatment through prosecutions of groups and individuals accused of engaging in this behavior. Progress was also made in combating trafficking in persons.

Anti-government forces committed numerous human rights abuses in the internal conflict in Chechnya. They continued killing and intimidating local heads of administration. There were also reports of Chechen rebel involvement in both terrorist bombings and politically motivated disappearances in Chechnya and Ingushetiya during the year. Some Chechen rebels were allegedly involved in kidnapping to raise funds. There were also reports that explosives improvised by Chechen rebels often led to civilian casualties."

Document(s): Open document

20.01.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Violence and unrest in other North Caucasus republics, increasingly accompanied by reports of human rights violations ("Council of Europe must take action to ensure real change for human rights [EUR 46/002/2006]") [#42576], [ID 11180]

"There is violence and unrest in other North Caucasus republics, increasingly accompanied by reports of human rights violations such as arbitrary detention, torture, “disappearances” and abductions.
Amnesty International continues to receive reports of people being detained in Ingushetia and transported to neighbouring republics such as North Ossetia, where they have been subjected to torture. For example, according to reports received by Amnesty International, on the morning of 30 November 2005, Ruslan Tsechoev, Muslim Tsechoev, Magomed Tsechoev and Yusup Khashiev were detained in Nazran, Ingushetia by Russian federal law enforcement officials and transported to the premises of the Regional Department for the Fight against Organized Crime (RUBOP) in Vladikavkaz. During interrogation sessions there it is alleged that they were beaten and subjected to electric shock treatment. Muslim Tsechoev, Magomed Tsechoev and Yusup Khashiev are reported to have been released late that evening, having been made to sign statements that they had no complaints about their treatment, and also a record of the interrogation session without being able to read it first.ii Following their release they are reported to have submitted complaints to the procuracy about their detention and torture, and to have had medical examinations that have confirmed their testimonies of being tortured."

Document(s): Open document