The New York Times

Thursday, December 9, 1999

Ending the Brutality in Chechnya

In the name of combating terrorism, Russian troops are threatening to destroy anyone who does not, or cannot, leave the Chechen capital of Grozny. Of the more than 20,000 residents, who remain huddled in rooms without heat, light or even windows, many are too old or frightened to leave. Most of these holdouts are innocent bystanders, far from the "bandits" who are the declared targets of Kremlin leaders. It is time for Russia to show restraint, to start making certain its armies observe basic humanitarian principles and to begin searching for a way out of this tragic war.

The global outrage about Russian killing of civilians in Chechnya comes as Russians prepare to elect a new Parliament on Dec. 19, and with each round of international censure, anti-Westerners move up in the polls. Thus some analysts suggest that any political settlement in Chechnya cannot occur until after that date. This pressure makes the public statements of Russian leaders more understandable, but it does not relieve them of the obligation to stop troops from razing Grozny and indiscriminately killing innocent civilians.

This military strategy, as President Clinton noted, does not work, since it punishes Chechen civilians more than the Chechen rebels. With every Russian abuse, Chechen moderates also become more radical. Moreover, the carnage, increasingly visible on television throughout the world, damages Russia's stature as other nations come to recognize habits from its authoritarian past.

Mr. Clinton said at his news conference yesterday that he saw no workable way to impose international sanctions, since Russia has a veto in the United Nations Security Council. He argued that cutting United States aid that helps dismantle nuclear weapons or promotes democratic capitalism was not in America's best interest. The International Monetary Fund, however, has continued to delay a $640 million credit for Russia. Though the I.M.F. insists that its action is based solely on financial grounds, the delay rightly serves notice to Moscow that Western help is not entirely unconditional.

The Russians rained thousands of leaflets on Grozny this week declaring to Chechens on the ground: "You have lost!" Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders should pay attention to their own message, declare their military operation at an end and quickly find a route to a political settlement.