Strasbourg, 26/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - At the end of a debate on the human rights situation in Chechnya, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided, by 88 in favour, 20 against and 11 abstentions, to restore the powers of the 18 members of the Russian delegation who will now again be able to fully take part in the Assembly's work. EUROPE recalls that the voting rights of the delegation were suspended in 2000 following human rights violations in Chechnya.
The Assembly adopted two reports on developments in the humanitarian situation of displaced people in Chechnya, saying they were deeply concerned, especially by the low rate of prosecutions against troops accused of human rights violations. The Assembly decided to set up a working group made up of seven of its members and at least eight members of the State's Duma to monitor implementation of the recommendations on Chechnya. This group will, before its April session, provide the Assembly with a detailed list of investigations into crimes committed by the armed forces and special police forces.