This hearing discussed the human right violations conducted by the Russian government against the civilians of the Chechen Republic. The horrendous human rights violations, the war in Chechnya brought to the fore all the underlying fissures in Russia’s political and economic structures, as well as highlighted the tensions in Russia’s relations with its neighbors and the rest of the international community. Chechnya confronted Russia’s Government, and by extension, all OSCE governments with the key issue of self-determination. Though Principle VIII of the Helsinki Final Act guarantees the equal right of all peoples to self-determination, the international community has never worked out rules and mechanisms for pursuing that right. Since many countries face actual or potential separatist movements based on demands for self-determination, governments have tended to side-step the issue.
Members
Hon. Chris Smith
Chairman
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Alfonse D`Amato
Co-Chairman
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Steny Hoyer
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Harry Reid
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Bill Richardson
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Frank Wolf
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Edward Royce
Member of Congress
U.S. Congress
Hon. Matt Salmon
Member of Congress
U.S. Congress
Witnesses
Dr. Elena Bonner
President
Sakharov Foundation
Maryam Elahi
Program Officer
Amnesty International
Charles Fairbanks
Research Professor
Johns Hopkins Foreign Policy Institute
Paul Goble
Senior Associate
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Mohammed Shashani
President
Chechen Ingush Society of America
Relevant Issues
Relevant Countries
Leadership
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