The American Committee for Peace in the Caucasus

ACPC Weekly News UPDATE
June 14, 2010 – June 20, 2010

President Medvedev makes surprise visit to Chechnya as regional violence continues to claim lives

On Monday, June 14^th, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made an unannounced visit to the Chechen republic where he met with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov and North Caucasus federal envoy Alexander Khloponin, among others. Medvedev praised Kadyrov for his efforts to rebuild much of the republic after two devastating military campaigns left most of Chechnya in ruins but stressed the need for socio-economic investment in order to ensure long-term stability.

Although Kadyrov has been credited for his reconstruction efforts and containing a low-level insurgency, rights groups have critized Chechen security services for numerous human rights violations, the use of collective punishment against families of alleged insurgents and the persecution of independent media and activists. Recent reports of women without headscarves in public being shot at with paint balls guns in Grozny have drawn sharp condemnation from Russian and international rights organizations. Chechen authorities have denied allegations that members of Chechen security forces were responsible for the attacks.

Meanwhile, in neighboring North Caucasus republics, clashes between militants and security forces claimed at least 16 lives last week, including nine security servicemen.