Brussels, 18/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 December, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini called for a “measured response” in the face of the rise of tension in Chechnya (Russia) - particularly as regards the recent terrorist attacks in Grozny. Clashes between the police and Islamist rebels claimed 25 lives in Grozny on 4 December. “In spite of the grief, calls from President Ramzan Kadyrov for the collective punishment of families of armed militants will only exacerbate tensions”, Mogherini stated. Kadyrov called for reprisals against the families of the Islamist rebels, believing that they should be banished and that their houses should be destroyed.
“The crackdown on human rights activists in Chechnya, threats against [human rights activist] Igor Kalyapin and the recent attacks against the joint mobile group, whose offices were set on fire, should stop”, Mogherini added.
Those responsible for serious crimes in Chechnya, whether acts of terrorism or human rights violations, should be brought to justice, Mogherini stated. She reiterated that as a member of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, Russia should stand by its international commitments and ensure the safety of human rights defenders, “in particular, those who continue to work in the Northern Caucasus”. (CG)