Mar 12, 2004

Chechnya: Abduction of over 30 members of the Khanbiev family


Mr. Oumar Khanbiev visited mr. Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament to inform him of the abduction of over 30 members of his family
Untitled Document
12/03/2004
PRESSRELEASE: ABDUCTION OF OVER 30 MEMBERS OF THE KHANBIEV FAMILY. THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,PAT COX, RECEIVES OUMAR KHANBIEV, CHECHEN MINISTER OF HEALTH.

On Wednesday evening Mr. Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, received Mr. Oumar Khanbiev, Minister of Health in the government of the Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov. During his stay in Strasbourg, Mr. Khanbiev has met numerous MEPs from various political groups in order to inform them of the abduction of over 30 members of his family and the decision by his brother, Magomed Khanbiev, to give himself up in order to save those arrested from suffering further violence and torture.

Statement by Mr Oumar Khanbiev, Minister of Health and General Representative of President Maskhadov:

"I am very moved by the great sensibility displayed by the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Pat Cox, who did not hesitate, after learning of the tragedy that has befallen over 30 members of my family as well as my brother Magomed, to rearrange his diary in order to receive me. I think that this meeting with President Cox, as well as the meetings I have had with numerous MEPs from various political forces, the recent recognition by the European Parliament that Stalin’s deportation of my people in 1944 constitutes an act of genocide and the Parliament’s call on the Commission and the Council to study the peace plan proposing the establishment of an interim UN administration in Chechnya demonstrate that the legitimacy of President Maskhadov and his government continues to enjoy strong support within the European Parliament, and hence within the European Union as a whole.

I would like to stress once again that that extremely violent wave of repression that has struck my family in the last few days is merely one more episode in the policy of terror pursued by the Russian authorities in Chechnya for ten years. I am convinced that the systematic recourse to terror - with kidnappings, ransom demands, torture, and degrading, inhuman treatment - will never lead to a real solution to the Russo-Chechen tragedy. As President Maskhadov has constantly stated, only negotiations can lead the two sides to find a solution to the conflict. It is in this spirit that the Chechen government published a peace plan over a year ago proposing the establishment of an interim United Nations administration in Chechnya. We believe that this proposal is the only one that can satisfy both the security interests of the Russian Federation and the aspirations to freedom and democracy of the Chechen people. This proposal also shows our continuing desire to enter negotiations with the Russian authorities.

As far as my brother Magomed is concerned, he is currently being held hostage by the Russian side. Consequently all statements made about him by the Russian authorities and all the statements he has been able to make cannot be considered to be views expressed freely by Magomed Khanbiev. They are merely statements extorted by the most abject form of blackmail, yet another example of the cynicism and violence of Russian policy in Chechnya.”

Source: Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
Ministry of Foreign Affairs