Subject: CHECHNYA: APPEAL OF MEMORIAL SOCIETY TO THE RUSSIAN PUBLIC
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0 -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
X-Comment: The Transnational Radical Party List
"THE AUTHORITIES PUT THEMSELVES BEHIND DEMOCRACY AND LAW"
Moscow, January 2, 1995
The war, unleashed on the Northern Caucasus, is conducted not against
general Dudaev, and not against separatism - either Chechenian or other
one. This is the war against Russian democracy and freedom, against you and
us. Its inevitable result already now is attack against human rights,
against freedom of speech, establishing of a regime, relying not on the
force of law, but on the law of force.
There is no sense to beg the authorities anymore. Authorities, unleashed
the bloodshed in Chechnya, accompanying every own step by unbridled and
evident lies, put themselves behind democracy and law. We appeal now to
you, to your civic responsibility and civic courage. The slaughter,
committed in Grozny, is organized on the name of Russian people, on the
your and our name. Everybody's duty - to realize his own attitude toward
the events in Chechnya and to express this attitude.
Just now civilians are still killed.
Just now hundreds of soldiers continue to die disgracefully, being obliged
to fulfil senseless and criminal orders.
Everybody among us is responsible for what happens.
Executive Committee of "Memorial" Society
On January 3, since 2 till 3 PM Moscow Memorial will keep a mourning watch
near Solovetsky Stone on Lubjanka Square. We dedicate this hour to
remembrance of all perished since the beginning of bloodshed in Chechnya -
both civilians and military men.
The same watches Memorial intends to organize in Saint Petersburg,
Ekaterinburg, Jaroslavl and some other Russian cities.
