This week the New York based, world renowned human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch, released a damning report on Russia's human rights record in Chechnya. "Who will tell me what happened to my son? Russia's Implementation of European Court of Human Rights Judgments on Chechnya" is a comprehensive analysis of Russia's response to the rulings of the judicial arm of the Council of Europe, an international human rights body to which Russia is a signatory. The findings, in the report's own words, were that: "In almost all of the 115 rulings, the court concluded that Russia was responsible for extrajudicial executions, torture, and enforced disappearances, and that it had failed to investigate these crimes. In the 33 cases researched by Human Rights Watch, Russia has still not brought a single perpetrator to justice, even in cases in which those who participated in or commanded the operations that led to violations are named in the European Court judgments." In other words, Russia has not only perpetrated human rights abuses within its own borders, it has almost entirely ignored its self-imposed international obligations to properly investigate, account for and prosecute those violations. As long as Russia's total arrogance over this cycle of impunity continues, justice will never be served and Chechen citizens will continue to live under a regime of terror. I add my voice to those calling for stronger action against Russia in the Council of Europe, we cannot let this go on.

Ivar Amundsen,
Director, Chechnya Peace Forum