Press Release of the Committee of Anti-war Actions

ON SUNDAY, MARCH 19, VARIOUS ACTIONS IN PROTEST AGAINST THE WAR IN CHECHNYA ARE SCHEDULED ALL OVER THE WORLD

Declarations of the Russian authorities about a "successful development of the operation" and their "respect of the human rights in Chechnya" notwithstanding, discontent with their policy is growing in our society.

On March 19 there will be a day of actions of opponents of the war and Ñhe escalating militarization of Russia itself. It is expected that this will be one of the strongest waves of protest since the "second Chechnya war" started. The events will take place in many Russian cities (including Moscow, Perm, Voronezh, Ekaterinburg, Sanct-Petersburg, and others) and also in many European countries.

In Moscow, on March 19 at noon, on the Pushkin square, there will be a mass demonstration, where representatives of various NGOs and well-known people of the arts will speak.

Among the slogans are: "Victory of the generals is a defeat of Russia", "To kill one person is a crime, to kill ten people is a horrible crime, -- to kill ten thousands is an anti-terrorist operation?", "We must stop this war not for Europe's sake, but for Russia's", "Imagine that your neighbor is a criminal... should your house be bombed, then?" and others. During the event we will suggest to the participants to bring humanitarian aid (toys, food, etc.) for the children of Chechnya.

The actions will be organized by the Committee for Anti-War Actions, which includes representatives of about 20 Russian Non-Governmental Organizations (Human Rights Center "Memorial", Union of the Committees of Soldier's Mothers, Anarchist Anti-War Movement, Anti-Militarist Radical Association, and others) and several non-affiliated citizens.

The main goal of this series of actions is to show that there is a part of the Russian society which stands strongly against the Government's policy in the North Caucasus. Despite the authorities' declaration that "the military operation is finalized", in the Committee's opinion, there are many unsolved problems: the horrible situation of the refugees, torture and abuse in the "filtration camps", lack of prosecution for the numerous war crimes, escalating militarization of the Russian society, censorship in the mass media, and so on.

We demand investigation of the war crimes, true and responsible information about the situation in Chechnya, immediate delivery of the necessary aid to the refugees, and unconditional access of the Russian and international observers into the conflict area.

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Committee for Anti-War Actions is a coalition of Russian NGOs and movements. Established in 1995, it conducted anti-war pickets and demonstrations during the 1994-96 war in Chechnya, and renewed its activities in January 2000. The Committee is comprised of representatives of the Human Rights Center "Memorial," the Union of Soldiers' Mothers Committees of Russia, Democratic Perspective, Antimilitarist Radical Association, Radical Party, Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, Youth Human Rights Center, Anarchist Anti-War Movement, Human Rights Network, Movement Against Violence, Anti-Fascist Youth Action, Information Center of the Independent Women's Forum, and other groups, as well as several non-affiliated individuals.

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Detailed information about the Committee for Anti-War Actions:

E-mail: war@hro.org

www.hro.org/war

ICQ 55963586

Tel. (095) 208-4902, 8_901-764-84-80

The committee for Anti-War Actions is open to cooperation with the press. We are ready to provide you with information and analysis related to the war in Chechnya and the activities of anti-war organizations. Besides, we are ready to help you with organization of interviews with the representatives of the Committee and supply you with photographic materials about anti-war actions.

A contact person: Grigori Tarasevich