Grozny, January 1, 1995

We, deputies of Russian Federal Council, being in Grozny city during onslaught of Russian military squads, testify:

1. Vast military action is on around Grozny. On December 31, 1994, after violent bombardments, about 250 armoured vehicles were driven into the city. Dozens of them achieved the center of Grozny. Defenders of the city split armoured troops and destroyed them systematically. Their crews are killed, taken prisoners, or scattered in the city. Flaring vehicles lightened night city. Intruders' troops are completely defeated.

2. As a result of military action and preceding bombardments, the center of Grozny and many buildings in other parts of the city are demolished and burned up. Thousands of peaceful citizens, Chechens and Russians, died of bullets, artillery shells and bombs, and ruins. Dozens of thousands of people are deprived from any shelter or property. Hundreds of soldiers died. Government information service conceals the truth. In fact, mass murders are done, that can be called "genocide".

3. During aimed bombardment, oil tanks were burned. We have seen streams of blazing mass approaching to cisterns with ammonia and other chemicals. Catastrophe impends, that will threaten hundreds of thousands of Grozny residents and adjoining regions of Northern Caucasus.

4. Thousands of armed citizens arrive to Grozny as political leaders summon them, The city is controlled by its defenders except several blocks, where remainders of intruders' military squads are surrounded. Russian squads are opposed not by bandits, but by armed people. Russian government used violence and cruel actions, so it fastened those people together and inspired them to struggle. They fight Russian soldiers, gathered in a hurry, badly trained, having no idea what are they fighting for, enduring cruel privations, thrown into bloody massacre.

5. Russian government refuses to resolve the conflict in peace and declines any attempts of negotiations even with any political terms to be fulfilled by Chechen side. Rushing towards a mirage victory, that could crib all monstrous losses and crimes, and increasing their forces, Russian government is probably preparing a new onslaught of Grozny during next days or even hours. We consider, that starting flywheel of war of Russian army against our own people on our own territory can and must be stopped. We demand immediate cessation of military action in Chechnia. To do so, things described below must be done:

-- President of Russian Federation must dismiss N.Jegorov and P.Grachov immediately from direction of action in Chechnia.

-- State Duma and Federal Council, that have already adopted anti-war declarations, must be convoked to start a plenary sitting and to discuss the situation and taking urgent decisions.

-- Special sitting if Government presidium must be convoked to consider our point of view, that must be submitted by representatives of our deputy group, who were sent to Moscow.

-- Informational blockade of state radio and TV channels must be stopped. Our citizens must know the truth about masters of that bloody adventure.

We are sure that all disputable questions concerning status of Chechnia must be resolved by political means only.

Plenipotentiary on human rights in Russian Federation,

member of State Duma,

Sergej Kovaliov

Members of State Duma:

Valeri Borschiov,

Gleb Jakunin,

Mikhail Molostvov,

Alexander Osovtsov,

Lev Ponomariov,

Juri Rubakov,

Anatoli Shabad,

Viktor Shejnis

Member of Federal Council

Viktor Kurochkin

Translated into English by A.Prishchenko, Kiev, 5/01/94.